US president’s remarks dampen hopes that tariffs would goal solely sure international locations.
United States President Donald Trump has mentioned his soon-to-be-announced reciprocal tariffs will apply to “all international locations”, pouring chilly water on hopes that solely economies with the most important commerce imbalances with the US could be focused.
Chatting with reporters on board Air Pressure One on Sunday, Trump mentioned that his long-anticipated tariff announcement on April 2 would “begin” with all international locations.
You’d begin with all international locations,” Trump informed reporters. “Primarily, the entire international locations that we’re speaking about.”
Trump’s remarks come after his administration had performed down the scope of the tariffs set to be unveiled on April 2, which the US president has dubbed “liberation day”.
White Home economics adviser Kevin Hassett prompt earlier this month that the measures could be closely centered on 10 to fifteen international locations that account for the majority of the US commerce deficit.
“There are greater than 100 international locations that don’t actually have any tariffs on us and don’t have any non-tariff boundaries,” Hassett mentioned in an interview with Fox Enterprise.
Trump himself additionally appeared to minimize the severity of the upcoming tariffs final week, saying the reciprocal measures could be “very lenient” and that individuals could be “shocked”.
Whereas the particular particulars of Trump’s plans are unclear, his administration has pledged to hit international locations with duties which are equal to the tariffs and non-tariff commerce boundaries, corresponding to subsidies, that they impose on US exports.
Trump, who final week introduced a 25 p.c tariff on all auto imports, has lengthy accused different international locations of exploiting the US on commerce, casting his protectionist financial agenda as essential to revive home manufacturing and create jobs.
Trump’s newest tariffs on automobiles and different automobiles have strained Washington’s relations with a few of its closest companions and allies, together with Canada, the European Union and Japan, all of which have massive automotive industries.
Trump’s back-and-forth bulletins on tariffs have additionally despatched jitters by way of world markets, with traders struggling to gauge if the US president intends to make his tariffs everlasting or views them as primarily a bargaining software.
Trump mentioned final week that he was “definitely open” to creating offers with international locations to keep away from the tariffs after the April 2 announcement.
Asian inventory markets fell sharply on Monday in anticipation of additional disruption to world commerce.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI have been down 3.85 p.c and a pair of.55 p.c, respectively, as of 03:00 GMT.
Australia’s ASX 200 had fallen 1.56 p.c, whereas Hong Kong’s Dangle Seng was down 1.20 p.c.
Gold, a conventional safe-haven asset in periods of market volatility, rose above $3,100 for the primary time, buying and selling at a document excessive of $3,106.79 per ounce.
