US President Donald Trump announced that he will announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries on Tuesday or Wednesday, BNR reported. Speaking to reporters on board the presidential plane, he said that later today he would announce the introduction of tariffs of 25% on all aluminum and steel imports into the United States.
"It's very simple - if they tax us, we do the same. The reciprocal tariffs will take effect almost immediately, but I will announce the details later. It will be very detailed and it will be great for everyone, including other countries. I will also announce the tariffs on steel on Monday. Any steel that enters the United States will be taxed with a 25% tariff. Aluminum too".
Trump has repeatedly threatened tariffs on his country's trading partners, accusing them of undermining its prosperity. During his first term, the US president also imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum, but later lifted the levies on some countries such as Canada, Mexico and Brazil. His successor, Joe Biden, has also lifted tariffs on Britain, the European Union and Japan.
For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded that "Europe is ready to act within the hour" if the United States imposes tariffs on the European Union. The issue of possible tariffs from Washington was raised during the election debates in Germany between Scholz and Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Party.
A response also came from French President Emmanuel Macron, who also said that Europe should be ready to react to American measures, but according to him, the community "must work mainly for itself". Macron believes that tariffs on Europe will also have an impact on the United States itself, given the level of economic ties.