Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffs that will impact nearly every country trading with the United States, including Afghanistan. The move, unveiled in an executive order and during a speech in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday, marks a significant escalation in his push for what he terms “fair and reciprocal trade.”
Trump outlined a two-phase rollout of the tariffs. A baseline 10% tariff on nearly all U.S. imports will come into effect on April 5. A second phase, involving additional country-specific reciprocal tariffs, is scheduled to begin on April 9.
Justifying the action, Trump said the tariffs are a necessary response to years of what he called unfair treatment by America’s trading partners. He argued that while the U.S. has upheld reciprocal trade principles, other nations have taken advantage by imposing higher tariffs and hidden trade barriers on American products.
“For too long, we’ve allowed others to profit from imbalanced trade deals. This stops now,” Trump said during his address. “The United States will no longer tolerate one-sided trade practices.”
The executive order emphasized that the goal is not protectionism, but to push for a more level playing field in global trade. However, analysts warn the tariffs could trigger retaliation, disrupt global supply chains, and increase costs for American consumers.
The announcement has already sent shockwaves through international markets and raised concerns among U.S. trading partners, many of whom are expected to respond with countermeasures.
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