Trump: Reciprocal tariffs to counter trade barriers

By Andrew Moran, The Epoch Times – February 13, 2025

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Feb. 13 signed off on a plan to enact reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners, citing countries’ unfair barriers to trade against the United States.

Trump said at the Oval Office that reciprocal tariffs mean “whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge—no more no less. “

The president’s reciprocal plan will customize tariffs on a country-specific basis and could go into effect by early April, according to Howard Lutnick, commerce secretary nominee.

“For many years, the U.S. has been treated unfairly by other countries, both friend and foe. This system will immediately bring fairness and prosperity back into the previously complex and unfair system of trade,” Trump said.

The tariff action marks a key plank in the Trump administration’s plan to “level the playing field” with countries on trade. Trump on Feb. 10 raised tariffs on all steel and aluminum to 25 percent and imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports earlier this month.

The president pointed to the inequality in trade barriers between the United States and other nations. The United States generally has low tariffs and barriers to entry.

“If you go to the individual country and you look at what they’re charging us, in almost all cases, they’re charging us vastly more than we charge them. But those days are over,” he said.

PHOTO: Shipping containers are organized at the Houston Port of Authority in Houston on Feb. 10, 2025. Brandon Bell/Getty Images.