President Donald Trump prepares to launch on Wednesday, April 2, the mother of all commercial battles, with new tariffs that, as expected, will mark the beginning of a “golden era” for the United States, although its outcome is uncertain for the global economy.
According to his spokesman, Karoline Leavitt, the US president dealt on Tuesday, April 1, polishing his project, whose content and scope are still a mystery.
“As of tomorrow, the days when the United States was scammed,” Leavitt said at a press conference.
He added that the tariffs “will be done immediately” once they are announced on Wednesday, day of liberation According to Donald Trump, during a ceremony at 16.00 (20.00 GMT) in the White House.
That is, just after the closing of the New York Stock Exchange, which has already begun to oscillate, like other stock markets in the world.
The US government has not commented on the information published by the local press that suggest a 20 % unique tariff over all imports.
Until now, he threatened to be “reciprocal”; That is, that Washington would match dollar per dollar the taxes imposed on US goods abroad.
Benevolent
Trump usually cultivates uncertainty and destabilize with last minute changes.
“We are going to be very friendly,” he said last Monday, after having accused for weeks foreign countries to cheat the United States.
Their partners try to prepare with firm speeches, although they leave the door open and make gestures of appeasement.
The new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, has assured that his country will reflect before responding to the “unjustified measures of the US government.”
“We do not necessarily want to take retaliation measures, but we have a solid plan to do so if necessary,” warned the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In Taiwan, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-Huei, said: Our countermeasures have been evaluated and analyzed. For example, how we would react to a 10 % or 25 % tariff.
Will there be exceptions?
Some are confident in obtaining exemptions, such as Vietnam, which offered to reduce its customs tariffs on a series of products.
Japan has announced the creation of a thousand “consultation windows” to help companies, while trying to get indulgent treatment.
The United Kingdom also seeks “an economic agreement,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday.
Washington’s attacks on free trade push countries to make strategic approaches.
During the weekend, China, Japan and South Korea announced their intention to “accelerate” their negotiations for a free trade agreement. In addition, high European positions asked to strengthen ties between the European Union (EU) and Canada.
Wand
But the Republican cannot afford to reverse after having sold customs rates as a kind of magical wand capable of reindustrializing the United States, re -evaluating the trade balance and eliminating the fiscal deficit.
Fascinated by protectionism that prevailed in the United States at the end of the 19th and early twentieth centuries, Donald Trump – elected with the promise to reduce the cost of living – has generally minimized the fears of an increase in inflation or a drop in bags by these measures.
Goldman Sachs analysts have highlighted in a note the economic hazards linked to an avalanche of tariffs, which would have the same negative impact as a tax rise on consumption and purchasing power.
Since in January he returned to the White House, Trump has increased tariffs to products from China, to a part of those of Mexico and Canada-their partners in the treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC)-and on steel and aluminum, regardless of its origin.
On Thursday at 04.01 GMT, Washington also plans to impose an additional tariff of the 25 % to cars and components manufactured abroad.
Theoretically there will be an exception: vehicles assembled in Mexico or Canada will be subject to a 25 % tax only on the part of loose pieces that do not come from