‘Time for reciprocity’: US to go ahead with reciprocal tariffs on countries including India
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Washington: White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Monday made it clear that the US administration would go ahead with its reciprocal tariffs against the ‘unfair trade practices’ by foreign nations.
Leavitt’s statement confirming reciprocal tariffs comes ahead of President Trump announcing the tariff plans on April 2, a day he called as ‘Liberation Day’ of America, NDTV reported.
Announcing that ‘It's time for reciprocity’, Leavitt said: ‘The goal of Wednesday is a country-based tariff, but certainly sectoral tariffs. The President has said he's committed to implementing them, and I would leave it to him when he makes that announcement.’
Making the case for reciprocal tariffs against countries including India, Leavitt showed a piece of paper listing tariffs on American products imposed by the European Union, India, Japan, and Canada.
The White House Press spokesperson said, ‘If you look at the unfair trade practices that we have-- 50 per cent from the European Union on American dairy. You have a 700 per cent tariff from Japan on American rice. You have a 100 per cent tariff from India on American agricultural products. You have nearly a 300 per cent tariff from Canada on American butter and American cheese.’
‘This makes it virtually impossible for American products to be imported into these markets, and it puts a lot of Americans out of business and out of work over the past several decades,’ Leavitt said.
President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs aims to hit back at countries that impose higher tariffs on American products to protect products and industries vital to their economy, which according to the US administration is ‘unfair’.
The higher tariffs imposed on American products are hurting the country’s industries and workers with Leavitt claiming that Trump’s tariff plans could bring about ‘historic change’ to America's trade relationships.
Leavitt pointing to countries that reportedly impose higher tariffs on American produces, said: ‘Unfortunately, these countries have been ripping off our country for far too long...And they've made their disdain, I think, for the American worker quite clear.’