U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that the new tariffs he plans to impose will affect all countries, not just those with large trade imbalances with the United States.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump dismissed speculation that the tariffs would target a select group of nations, instead stating that they would be applied across the board.
Trump has promised a “Liberation Day” on April 2, when he is expected to unveil reciprocal tariffs aimed at addressing unfair trade practices.
“You’d start with all countries, so let’s see what happens,” he told reporters, adding that there would be no cutoff or exceptions.
His comments contradict earlier expectations that the tariffs would primarily target the “Dirty 15”, a group of nations with persistent trade imbalances as identified by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Despite expanding the list of affected countries, Trump insisted that the new tariffs would be more generous than those imposed on the U.S. by its trading partners.
“The tariffs will be far more generous than those countries were to us, meaning they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades,” he said.
“But it’s substantial money for the country nevertheless.”
Trump’s administration has already imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, as well as additional levies on Chinese goods. New tariffs on imported automobiles are set to take effect on April 3.
His top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, estimated that the auto tariffs alone could generate $100 billion annually, while the broader tariff program could raise $600 billion per year, totaling $6 trillion over a decade.
Trump’s aggressive tariff plan has sparked concerns of a global trade war, with multiple countries threatening to retaliate. Economists have warned that the sweeping tariffs could fuel inflation and trigger an economic downturn.
Despite these warnings, Trump has defended the move as necessary to boost government revenue and revitalize U.S. industry.
