Amid speculation over US President Donald Trump's"Liberation Day tariff" plans, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified Monday that no exemptions would be granted on reciprocal tariffs. Mentioning the tariffs imposed on American goods by other countries, Leavitt stressed the need to end "unfair trade practices."

President Trump is set to announce a new wave of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a date he has declared as America's "Liberation Day."

President Trump's new tariff policy aims to counter unfair trade practices by imposing the same high tariffs that other countries place on American goods.The White House spokesperson, holding a document listing foreign tariffs, pointed out that the EU charges 50% on American dairy, Japan imposes 700% on American rice, India applies 100% on U.S. farm products, and Canada levies nearly 300% on butter and cheese. 

She stressed that such tariffs make it nearly impossible for American products to compete in these markets, leading to job losses and business closures in the U.S. Countries impose high tariffs on imports to safeguard their key industries, but President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aim to level the playing field by matching these high rates and countering trade barriers that disadvantage U.S. exports.

The Trump administration argues that this imbalance harms American businesses and workers. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the new tariffs would mark a "historic change" in U.S. trade policies, stating, "These countries have been taking advantage of us for far too long... and their disregard for the American worker is clear."

The Trump administration on Monday released a detailed list of trade rules from other countries that it believes make it harder for American businesses to compete. This comes just two days before Trump plans to impose new tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

The report, put together by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, highlights high foreign tariffs on American goods and other trade barriers like strict food safety rules, renewable energy policies, and government buying restrictions.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said no modern president has done more than Trump to expose these unfair trade rules. He added that the administration is working hard to fix them and give American businesses a fair chance in the global market.

However, it’s still unclear if this 397-page report will have any effect on Trump’s upcoming tariffs.

About the report

The report lists several trade barriers that make it harder for U.S. products to enter foreign markets. Some are technical rules, like EU delays in approving genetically modified crops or bans on U.S. farm products with certain pesticides.

It also highlights a new EU rule requiring recycled content in plastic packaging, which the U.S. sees as a possible trade hurdle. However, officials say they will work with the EU on how it’s enforced.

Long-standing trade issues were also mentioned, like Canada’s strict limits on dairy, poultry, and egg imports. These rules come with huge tariffs, 245% on cheese and 298% on butter, making U.S. products too expensive to compete.

The report also criticizes high value-added taxes (VATs) in countries like Argentina, Mexico, and the UAE, which make U.S. imports more costly. It also claims that China’s VAT rebates give its exports an unfair price advantage.

 

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