President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he was making a move to slap a set of reciprocal tariffs as a means of keeping his promise to take action against unfair trade practices against the U.S. The move is already making waves through international markets.
The president got on Truth Social and wrote up a post about the tariffs, posting in the early morning hours, “THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
So what do reciprocal tariffs mean? If a country charges a specific tariff rate on our country’s products, the U.S. will now impose the exact same rate on imports coming from that country. The goal with such a strategy is to level the playing field when it comes to international trade and to help the government generate revenue.
A few hours later, Trump posted again, announcing that he would be holding a press conference at 1 pm in the Oval Office. This is where he would be revealing more of the details of the plan.
“NEWS CONFERENCE ON RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TODAY, 1:00 P.M., THE OVAL OFFICE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Trump said in the post.
“Historically, reciprocal tariffs have been a key component of trade agreements and disputes. They can be used as leverage in negotiations or as a form of retaliation in trade wars. For example, during the first Trump administration, the U.S. imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, and China responded with its own tariffs on American imports,” Trending Politics News said.
“Trump’s press conference shed light on the specific industries impacted, enforcement mechanisms, and potential exemptions. The White House has hinted that countries willing to negotiate fairer trade terms may receive waivers,” the article continued.
Trump announces reciprocal tariffs
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 13, 2025
Over the weekend, Trump said, “Very simply, it’s if they charge us, we charge them.” That is the perfect way to break it down for those of us who are clueless about all the ins-and-outs of international trade. The president’s ability to relate these things to the common man is one of his greatest traits.
“In addition to reciprocal tariffs, the administration has reinstated a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, citing national security concerns and the need to protect American industries. These tariffs are set to take effect on March 12, 2025, and will apply to all countries exporting these metals to the U.S.,” the report added.
“The president is firmly committed to this,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the press on Wednesday. “This is something he believes strongly in, and it’s very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs.” She continued, saying other nations have been “ripping off” the US, “and that’s why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security.”
Tariffs are nothing new. They’ve been around since the beginning of our nation. They have often been used as tools that help produce revenue, protection, and create pathways for geopolitical strategies.
“One of the first major laws passed by Congress, the Tariff Act of 1789, established duties on imports to generate revenue for the federal government, which lacked an income tax at the time. During the Civil War, tariffs were raised to finance the Union war effort, and protectionist policies dominated for the next several decades,” the report concluded.