In a fiery address to a Joint Session of Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized what he described as “very unfair” tariff policies imposed by India, China, and other nations. Announcing a major trade move, Trump declared that the United States would implement reciprocal tariffs starting April 2, mirroring the duties imposed by foreign nations on American exports.
“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India—Mexico and Canada—have you heard of them?—and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair,” Trump said during his address.
India Targeted for High Auto Tariffs
Trump singled out India for its steep tariffs on American auto exports, stating, “India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%.” He reiterated that his administration had been preparing for these measures for months and had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington would not spare India from its reciprocal tariff policy.
During Modi’s visit to Washington last month, Trump had reportedly warned that the U.S. would soon take action against what he perceives as trade imbalances. “Nobody can argue with me on this. The numbers speak for themselves,” he said.
China, South Korea Also in Focus
Apart from India, Trump pointed to China and South Korea as major offenders in imposing heavy tariffs on American products. “China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them, and South Korea’s is four times higher. Think of that, four times higher! And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea. But that’s what happens. This is happening by friend and foe. This system is not fair to the United States. It never was.”
Trump’s speech underscored his administration’s stance that America has been at a disadvantage for too long under current trade arrangements.
New Tariffs to Take Effect April 2
The president assured that beginning April 2, the U.S. would impose tariffs equal to what foreign nations levy on American goods. “Whatever they tariff us, we will tariff them. That’s reciprocal, back and forth. If they tax us, we tax them. If they use non-monetary barriers to keep us out of their market, we will do the same to keep them out of our market.”
“Trillions in Revenue, Unmatched Job Growth”
Trump predicted that these tariffs would bring in “trillions and trillions of dollars” and generate jobs at an unprecedented rate. “I did it with China, and I did it with others, and the Biden administration couldn’t do anything about it because there was so much money they couldn’t do anything about it. We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer.”