“If You Charge Us, We Charge Them”: Trump Announces 25% Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum Imports
Washington, D.C. – United States President Donald Trump has announced that a new round of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will be formally introduced on Monday, imposing a 25% duty on both materials as part of his administration’s push for what he calls “reciprocal trade.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Trump reiterated his stance on international trade, stating, “Very simply, if you charge us, we charge them.”
“Any steel coming into the United States will face a 25% tariff. Aluminum, too—25%,” Trump said, emphasizing that these measures would apply to all nations.
During a press briefing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, Trump had previewed the move, saying, “I’ll be announcing reciprocal trade next week so that we’re treated evenly with other countries. We don’t want any more, any less.”
The tariffs come amid Trump’s broader efforts to push for what he terms “fair trade.” Previously, he had considered a universal tariff of 10% or 20% but ultimately settled on 25% for both steel and aluminum. The president suggested the final announcement could be made on Monday or Tuesday, according to a report by Politico.
Trump has frequently criticized other countries for imposing higher tariffs on American products, particularly automobiles, where the U.S. import duty stands at just 2.5%. However, he did not specify whether any exemptions would be made under the new policy.
Reciprocal Trade Act: Trump’s Vision for Trade Equality
The president has long championed the Reciprocal Trade Act, a proposal that would grant him authority to impose tariffs on foreign goods equivalent to those levied on American exports.
“Under the Trump Reciprocal Trade Act, other countries will have two choices—either they eliminate their tariffs on us, or they will pay us hundreds of billions of dollars. The United States will make an absolute FORTUNE,” he said in a campaign video.
Expanding on his approach, Trump added, “If India, China, or any other country hits us with a 100% or 200% tariff on American-made goods, we will hit them with the exact same tariff. An eye for an eye, a tariff for a tariff.”
The announcement is expected to stir global trade discussions, with potential implications for U.S. relationships with major steel and aluminum exporters, including China, Canada, and the European Union.
(ANI)