'They Ripped Us Off': Donald Trump Renews Reciprocal Tariff Warning As April 2 Deadline Nears

Last Updated:March 31, 2025, 07:56 IST

Donald Trump announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all nations, expanding beyond the initial focus on 10–15 countries with trade imbalances.

US President Donald Trump (Photo: Reuters)

Donald Trump has said he is set to announce reciprocal tariffs to include all nations, not just a smaller group of 10 to 15 countries with the biggest trade imbalances, and said the tariffs would be “far more generous" than the countries were to the United States.

“They will be kinder, than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. They ripped us apart, like no country has ever been ripped off in history," Trump said on being asked about tariffs while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

“You’d start with all countries," he told reporters, adding, “Essentially all of the countries that we’re talking about."

Earlier, Trump said the reciprocal tariffs could be announced this week, possibly Wednesday, which he previously dubbed ‘Liberation Day’.

He has already imposed tariffs on aluminium, steel and autos, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China.

Last week, speaking in Washington, DC, Trump said, “We have been very nice to a lot of countries for a long time. But I call April 2 a Liberation Day. We will be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days related to automobiles, cars, chips, and more."

“April 2 will be a big day, and we will be bringing back some of the money that has been taken from us," Trump had said.

According to Reuters, White House economics adviser Kevin Hassett recently told Fox Business that the administration’s tariffs focus would be on 10 to 15 countries with the worst trade imbalances, though he did not list them.

Trump sees tariffs as a way of protecting the domestic economy from unfair global competition and a bargaining chip for better terms for the US.

However, concerns about a trade war are unsettling markets and creating fears of a recession in the US.

Trump has said he will impose a suite of reciprocal tariffs against nations that charge fees on US exports, promising to match those countries’ duties.

In February, Trump signed a memorandum that directed US trade officials to go country by country and put together a list of tailored counter-measures.

News world 'They Ripped Us Off': Donald Trump Renews Reciprocal Tariff Warning As April 2 Deadline Nears