[author: Robert Hawes]
On February 13, 2025, President Trump announced his plan, referred to as the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan,” to enact reciprocal tariffs on every country that charges duties on U.S. imports. The official memorandum did not name specific countries or products or include any tariffs with any immediate effect. Rather, the President instructed the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to study each trade relationship individually and recommend duties based on their findings.
A White House Fact Sheet that accompanied the announcement, however, called out:
- Brazilian tariffs on ethanol
- Indian tariffs on motorcycles
- EU restrictions on imported shellfish
- EU tariffs on cars
- Canadian and French digital service taxes
The reciprocal tariffs also aim to counteract non-tariff measures that the administration believes hinder U.S. imports. This includes value-added taxes, exchange rate policies, and government subsidies. President Trump stated that the reciprocal tariffs will also factor in non-monetary restrictions, such as tests on cars. During the press briefing, the President stated that sending merchandise through another country to avoid tariffs will not be tolerated. In a press conference today, the President indicated that the tariffs could be implemented soon after his team completes the studies on the issue by April 1.
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