Femi Ashekun/
In a detailed statement posted on X, President Donald Trump unveiled his plan for a new trade policy that prioritises fairness and reciprocity.
Trump announced his intention to implement a “Reciprocal Tariff” system, ensuring that the United States charges the same tariffs on imports as other nations impose on American goods.
“Whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them—no more, no less!” Trump declared, framing the policy as a means to rectify decades of unfair trade practices.
Trump’s post also addressed other trade issues, including the impact of Value Added Tax (VAT) systems, which he described as “far more punitive than a tariff.”
He emphasised that the U.S. would treat VAT systems and nonmonetary trade barriers as equivalent to tariffs, and he warned against attempts to bypass these measures through third-party countries.
The proposed policy would also consider subsidies and trade barriers that block U.S. products or prevent American businesses from operating abroad.
Trump assured that the U.S. has the tools to calculate the costs of such barriers and respond accordingly.
Trump stated that no tariffs would apply to goods manufactured in the United States, incentivising domestic production.
“This system will immediately bring fairness and prosperity back into the previously complex and unfair system of trade,” he wrote, adding that it is time for nations benefitting from past U.S. generosity to treat America fairly.
He revealed that key officials, including the Secretary of State and the U.S. Trade Representative, had been instructed to implement the policy.
The post sparked widespread discussion, with supporters lauding the move as a push for economic justice, while critics warned of potential trade conflicts.
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