United States President, Donald Trump, confirmed on Sunday that the tariffs he is set to impose in the coming days will not be limited to nations with the largest trade imbalances but will apply to all countries.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to implementing reciprocal levies as part of what he calls “Liberation Day” on April 2. The tariffs aim to address what his administration perceives as unfair trade practices.
“You’d start with all countries, so let’s see what happens,” Trump stated, putting to rest speculation that some nations might be exempt. He dismissed reports suggesting that only a select group of 10 to 15 countries—those with the most persistent trade deficits with the U.S.—would be affected.
“I haven’t heard a rumour about 15 countries, 10 or 15,” he said when questioned about the potential targets. “Essentially all of the countries that we’re talking about. We’ve been talking about all countries, not a cutoff.”
Previously, it was expected that the tariffs would focus on a group of nations referred to as the “Dirty 15” by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
However, Trump has now signaled a broader approach, though he insists the tariffs will still be more considerate compared to past trade policies imposed on the U.S.
“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,” Trump asserted. “They ripped us off like no country has ever been ripped off in history, and we’re going to be much nicer than they were to us. But it’s substantial money for the country nevertheless.”
The U.S. has already placed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and introduced additional levies targeting Chinese goods.
A separate set of tariffs on imported automobiles is scheduled to take effect on April 3.
Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, highlighted the financial impact of the measures, estimating that taxes on auto imports alone could generate $100 billion annually.
“And in addition, the other tariffs are going to raise about $600 billion a year, about $6 trillion over a 10-year period,” Navarro stated during an interview with Fox News Sunday.
While Trump has positioned the tariffs as a means to generate government revenue and boost American industry, the sweeping measures have sparked concerns over potential retaliation from other nations.
Economists warn that the aggressive tariff strategy could fuel inflation and lead to economic downturns.
Despite these concerns, Trump remains steadfast in his approach, viewing the tariffs as a necessary step to correct decades of trade imbalances.
