In an Executive Order and accompanying Fact Sheet published on April 2, 2025, President Trump announced his reciprocal tariff plan to “strengthen the international economic position of the United States and protect American workers.”
Using the authority granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), President Trump will impose a 10% tariff on all countries. This will go into effect April 5, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
In addition, the White house will “impose an individualized reciprocal higher tariff on the countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits.” This will go into effect April 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
Canada and Mexico will not be subject to the reciprocal tariffs, but they do remain subject the current IEEPA tariffs orders.
These tariffs are to remain until the President “determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.”
The following goods will not be subject to reciprocal tariffs:
- Articles subject to 50 USC 1702(b);
- Steel articles, aluminum articles, automobiles, and automobile parts already subject to Section 232 tariffs
- Copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber articles;
- All articles that may be subject to future Section 232 tariffs;
- Bullion; and
- Energy and other certain minerals that are unavailable in the United States
The “Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual united States Goods Trade Deficits Executive Order can be found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/
The ”President Donald J. Trump Declares National Emergency to Increase our Competitive Edge, Protect our Sovereignty, and Strength our National and Economic Security” Fact Sheet can be found here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/
