Unfortunately, the Trump administration seems determined to press ahead with its reciprocal tariff plan, which is still due to start on April 2. The plan goes out of its way to ensure a level playing field. It does this by assigning tariff rates to countries based on the duties those countries charge on U.S. goods. President Trump has called the initial start date America’s “liberation day.” If recent comments are any indication of his future thinking, he might be surprisingly flexible on the release schedule.
President Trump promised reporters in the Oval Office that he was open to changes to the plan. This is happening in no small part despite his strong advocacy for tariffs as a tool for trade negotiation.
People are coming to me and talking about tariffs, and a lot of people are asking me if they could have exceptions. - President Donald Trump
Target countries that raise tariffs on U.S. goods It hits hard those employing non-tariff trade policies, such as value-added taxes, a policy that the Trump administration most adamantly abhors. That wide-ranging reach has understandably worried businesses about the economic consequences and prompted a flood of exemption requests.
While signaling a willingness to be flexible, President Trump appeared cool on allowing exemptions to the new duties.
And once you do that for one, you have to do that for all. - President Donald Trump
Trump insisted that granting top automakers a one-month exemption on import duties in early March did not represent a change of heart.
I don't change. But the word flexibility is an important word. - President Donald Trump
The exemption was a boon to the auto industry in effect for a few months.
The administration’s stated intent with the reciprocal tariff plan is to foster fair trade practices. And countries that impose new, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods will be affected. Such an outcome may just ignite thousands of trips to the negotiating table to renegotiate trade agreements.
