Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a sweeping 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, with the official announcement set for Monday.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to the NFL Super Bowl on Sunday, Trump outlined his administration’s latest trade policy, emphasizing the principle of reciprocity. “Very simply, if you charge us, we charge them,” he stated.
Under the new directive, all steel and aluminum entering the U.S. will be subject to a 25% tariff, a move Trump claims will level the playing field in global trade. “Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25 per cent tariff. Aluminum, too—twenty-five per cent,” he reiterated.
A Push for ‘Fair Trade’
Trump’s announcement follows his earlier remarks at a press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, where he hinted at implementing reciprocal trade measures. “We just want to be treated fairly,” he said. “We don’t want any more, any less.”
The former president has long criticized international trade imbalances, arguing that many countries impose significantly higher tariffs on American goods compared to the U.S.’s rates. He previously floated the idea of a universal 10% or 20% tariff but ultimately settled on a blanket 25% charge on steel and aluminum.
No Exemptions Expected
The proposed tariffs will reportedly apply to all nations, with no confirmed exclusions. While Trump frequently highlights disparities in trade—such as the U.S.’s 2.5% duty on imported cars compared to much higher rates abroad—he has not indicated whether certain allies may receive exemptions from this round of tariffs.
Reciprocal Trade Act in Focus
During his presidential campaign, Trump championed the Reciprocal Trade Act, a policy aimed at ensuring equal treatment in international trade. Under this act, he argued, “Other countries will have two choices—either they eliminate their tariffs on us, or they will pay us hundreds of billions of dollars. The United States will make an absolute FORTUNE.”
He further added, “If India, China, or any other country hits us with a 100 or 200 per cent tariff on American-made goods, we will hit them with the same exact tariff. In other words, 100 per cent is 100 per cent. If they charge us, we charge them—an eye for an eye, a tariff for a tariff.”
The decision is expected to spark strong reactions from U.S. trading partners and could have significant implications for global trade relations. More details will be revealed in the official announcement on Monday.
(ANI)
