The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has announced the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on countries that tax American products, with the aim of equalizing the rates applied to United States exports. This measure will be carried out through an executive order that will be signed on Wednesday, February 12, or the following Thursday.
Trump has used tariff threats as a pressure tool since he took office. Despite warnings from economists about the possible price increases in the United States due to these measures, the president has continued with his policy. Initially, he announced a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada, his key trading partners, but delayed its imposition for a month after these countries agreed to strengthen border control.
On the other hand, the increase in tariffs on China has generated an escalation of tariffs between the two nations. Trump has also signed executive orders to impose 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, which will come into effect from March 12. It is expected that steel and aluminum imports from Mexico and Canada will be subject to a 50% tariff as the tariffs accumulate.
The president has expressed his dissatisfaction with the tariffs imposed by the European Union on automobiles imported from the United States, which amount to 10%. Trump believes that the world has taken advantage of the United States for a long time by imposing high tariffs, while the country has not acted reciprocally. The executive order seeks to correct this situation and level the tariff playing field.
