Multiple countries this week objected to President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of new reciprocal tariffs against trading partners (see 2504020072), saying they either plan to retaliate or are assessing how to respond.
A former Trump trade negotiator, Kelly Ann Shaw, described as "one of the key architects of the Administration’s trade, investment, energy and national security policies" in Trump's first term by her current law firm, said the reciprocal tariffs announced April 2, based on goods trade deficits, are not the same tariffs that will be in place weeks, months or years from now.
The annex to the Section 232 auto tariff proclamation has been released, listing tariff subheadings subject to the 25% tariffs on passenger vehicles and light trucks beginning April 3, and setting the effective date for tariffs on auto parts at May 3 (and also listing the subheadings covered by those tariffs).
President Donald Trump is imposing 10% tariffs on all imports other than those from Canada and Mexico, beginning April 5, according to a call detailing the reciprocal tariff actions ahead of the speech. These tariffs are not on top of Section 232 tariffs on autos and metals, a senior government official said on the call.
The U.S. will impose additional 10% tariffs on most imports, but not on Mexican and Canadian goods, information goods like books, music or films, or any goods either subject to Section 232 tariffs or among goods that Trump is considering protecting under Section 232, including pharmaceuticals, copper, lumber, semiconductors, certain critical minerals, and energy and energy products.
The annex to the Section 232 auto tariff proclamation has been released, listing tariff subheadings subject to the 25% tariffs on passenger vehicles and light trucks beginning April 3, and setting the effective date for tariffs on auto parts at May 3 (and also listing the subheadings covered by those tariffs).
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President Donald Trump, talking to reporters in the Oval Office, declined to say whether tariffs would be tailored to individual countries, or there would be a universal rate on all imports, saying that he'll let them know either Tuesday night, or probably April 2.
Customs attorney Dan Ujczo, who has contacts in the White House as well as clients who are major automakers, said he thinks the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico over migration and fentanyl will continue past April 2, and will be stacked with auto tariffs and the reciprocal levies.
Trade facilitation appears to be taking a back seat to trade enforcement, based on recent actions taken by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency to streamline federal operations, said a trade attorney during a March 26 webinar on tariffs and recent trade actions sponsored by Venable.