This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress / Radio-Canada
US President Donald Trump announced a new executive measure on Thursday, providing for “reciprocal” customs duties to other countries, causing the spectrum of a large trade war.
I decided, for the sake of equity, to apply reciprocal customs dutiessaid the American president when the document is signed, which orders his economic team to calculate new personalized tariff levels for each of the United States business partners.
If they impose us a customs right or a tax, we will impose on them exactly the same level of customs or tax law, it’s as simple as thathe said from the White House.
Intended to correct the commercial imbalance, the measure is not only a response to the customs prices imposed on American goods by other countries, but also targets what the Trump administration sees as non -tariff barriers.
The team responsible for this file will thus take into account the practices that the American president deems inequitable, as the subsidies that targeted countries grant to their industries, the taxes added on products and services, regulations deemed binding as well as rate policies of exchange, indicates the text of the decree.
In an additional document posted on the La Maison-Blanche website, the Trump administration targets the Digital services taxes Canadian and French because they target American web giants.
This new price salvo is the most recent to be added to the round of customs duties announced in recent weeks, which have notably targeted Canada, Mexico and China.
It also marks a break with the trade traditions of the United States, formerly the leader in free trade.
United States allies are often worse than our enemies In terms of trade, said Donald Trump.
During a call with journalists, an official of the White House cited the European Union, Japan and India among the targeted partners, according to the New York Times.
The American president also chose to sign the executive document a few hours before the visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at the White House.
No schedule for the entry into force of these new prices has been specified, but the candidate for the post of trade secretary, Howard Lungick, quoted by Reuters, said that the team responsible for this file would have finished analyzing The figures by April 1.
The Trump administration will first look at countries with the most important commercial surpluses and imposing the highest customs duties, said the White House Advisor to Trade and Industry, Peter Navarro, in an interview at CNN.
According to data published at the beginning of the month by the Commerce Department, the United States trade deficit reached the record sum of $ 1200 billion in 2024.
The country has accused its largest deficit with China, which counted for a little less than a quarter of the total deficit, followed by the European Union and Mexico. Canada came 10th.
According to Reuters, one of Donald Trump’s collaborators said the countries were able to negotiate.
Prices could rise in the short termalso admitted Donald Trump, saying confident to see them down later.
Several economists believe that customs prices could feed inflation.
President Trump also returned to his attacks on Canada, once again evoking his idea of doing the 51st state American.
If they had to pay something modestly fair, they would not be able to succeed as a countryhe said. This is why I think they must become a (American) statehe said, repeating that Canada was not a fair trade partner and that, moreover, he counted on his powerful neighbor to protect him militarily.
