Tariffs in the second Trump administration

Trump showing one of two[1] charts of tariffs during his Liberation Day speech on April 2, 2025

Tariffs implemented during the second presidency of Donald Trump have marked a sharp escalation in protectionist trade policies in the United States, with President Donald Trump announcing a series of steep tariffs on nearly all goods imported to the US. From January to April 2025, the US trade-weighted average tariff rose from 2% to an estimated 24%, the highest level in over a century.[2]

Trump escalated an ongoing trade war with China, raising baseline tariffs on Chinese imports to an effective 145% after April 9, 2025.[3] He also initiated a new trade war with Canada and Mexico by imposing a 25% tariff on most goods from the countries, though he later granted indefinite exemptions for goods compliant with the USMCA. Trump framed these actions as a way to hold the countries accountable for contraband drug trafficking and illegal immigration while supporting domestic manufacturing.[4][5] He later imposed a 25% tariff on imported steel, aluminum, and automobiles from all countries, with tariffs on auto parts expected to follow.

On April 2—a day he called "Liberation Day"—Trump signed an executive order imposing a minimum 10% tariff on all U.S. imports effective April 5. Higher tariffs on imports from 57 countries, ranging from 11% to 50%, were scheduled to take effect on April 9 but were almost immediately suspended for 90 days for all countries except China. The 10% tariff remains in effect.[6]

The announcement of these controversially[7][8][9][10] termed "reciprocal tariffs" prompted retaliation from trade partners and triggered a stock market crash.[11][12] According to the Trump administration's reciprocal tariff formula, trade deficits are viewed as inherently harmful and should be eliminated.[13] Economists cited by the administration said their research had been misinterpreted and that the administration's formula and goals were simplistic and illogical.[14][15] Media outlets argued the tariffs were not reciprocal but rather unilateral protective tariffs.[16] The tariffs have contributed to lowered GDP growth projections by the Federal Reserve and OECD and rising expectations of a recession.

  1. ^
    • "Posters displaying information on reciprocal tariffs in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US". The Irish Times. Bloomberg News. April 2, 2025. Archived from the original on April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
    • "In pictures: Trump signs executive order on global tariffs". The Irish Times. April 2, 2025. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "Tariff pause does not mean U.S. avoided growth slowdown, says Citi". Business Insider. April 9, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Ortiz, Erik (March 4, 2025). "Trump says tariffs were enacted to curb fentanyl, but U.S. overdose deaths are already declining". NBC New York. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  5. ^ Price, Michelle L. (March 6, 2025). "How Trump justifies his tariffs — from budget balancing to protecting 'the soul' of America". AP News. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  6. ^ Mangan, Dan; Breuninger, Kevin; Cox, Jeff; Wilkie, Christina; Doherty, Erin; Iordache, Ruxandra (April 9, 2025). "Trump raises China tariffs to 125% but announces 90-day pause for others: Live updates". CNBC. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  7. ^ "Trump takes America's trade policies back to the 19th century". The Economist. April 3, 2025. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  8. ^ Dorn, Sara. "Trump's Tariff Formula Slammed As 'Fake' And 'Incredibly Stupid' By Experts". Forbes. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  9. ^ Goldman, David (April 3, 2025). "This is the dubious way Trump calculated his 'reciprocal' tariffs". CNN. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Schneid, Rebecca (April 3, 2025). "Why Economists Are Horrified by Trump's Tariff Math". Time. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  11. ^ Ma, Jason. "Warren Buffett keeps taking investors to school as stock meltdown reveals the uncanny wisdom of his recent moves". Fortune. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  12. ^ Sherter, Alain (April 5, 2025). "Stock market rout deepens as Dow plunges more than 2,200 points and Nasdaq enters bear market". CBS News. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  13. ^ Swanson, Ana (April 5, 2025). "What to Know About Trump's New Tariffs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "What's really behind Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs?". Deutsche Welle. April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search