President Donald Trump has announced that the tariffs he plans to impose in the coming days will apply universally, covering all nations rather than just those with the largest trade imbalances with the United States.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday (31 March), Trump dismissed speculation that the levies would be restricted to a select few nations, stating: “You’d start with all countries, so let’s see what happens.”
His remarks dashed hopes that some of the proposed tariffs might be scaled back.
The tariffs, set to be revealed on 2 April, have been dubbed “Liberation Day” by Trump, who insists they are necessary to counter what he describes as decades of unfair trade practices.
Initial expectations had suggested the measures would target a group of persistently imbalanced trade partners—dubbed the “Dirty 15” by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—but Trump has now widened the scope.
Despite this expansion, Trump sought to frame the tariffs as lenient compared to how, in his view, the US has been treated. “The tariffs will be far more generous than those countries were to us,” he claimed.
“They ripped us off like no country has ever been ripped off in history, and we’re going to be much nicer than they were to us. But it’s substantial money for the country nevertheless.”
The US has already imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, as well as additional duties on Chinese goods. Further levies on imported automobiles are due to take effect on 3 April.
Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has projected that the auto tariffs alone could generate $100 billion annually, with broader tariffs expected to raise approximately $600 billion per year—equating to $6 trillion over a decade.
The sweeping measures have sparked fears of a global trade war, with affected nations preparing retaliatory tariffs and economists warning of potential inflationary pressures and economic downturns.
However, Trump continues to defend the tariffs as a crucial tool for raising government revenue and revitalising American industry.
