Trump unveils plan for reciprocal tariffs, says new policy will bring back 'fair' trade practices

Trump said his new policy is fair for everyone and countries can cut their tariffs against US if they still feel American administration’s reciprocal rates are too high.

US President Donald Trump on February 17 laid out the broad contours of his administration’s new trade policy, which would be based on ‘fairness’ and ‘reciprocity’.

Trump reiterated that US government will charge reciprocal tariffs on imported goods.

“I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff meaning, whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them - No more, no less!” Trump said in a post on X.

The republican president claimed that his new approach will address “unfair trade practices”, including VAT, subsidies non-monetary trade barriers that are meant to keep US products “out of domain”.

“For purposes of this United States Policy, we will consider countries that use the VAT System, which is far more punitive than a tariff, to be similar to that of a tariff. Sending merchandise, product, or anything by any other name through another country, for purposes of unfairly harming America, will not be accepted,” he said.

“In addition, we will make provision for subsidies provided by countries in order to take economic advantage of the United States. Likewise, provisions will be made for non-monetary tariffs and trade barriers that some countries charge in order to keep our product out of their domain or, if they do not even let US businesses operate.”

On Trade, I have decided, for purposes of Fairness, that I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff meaning, whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them - No more, no less!For purposes of this United States Policy, we will consider Countries that use the
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2025

Trump said his new policy is fair for everyone and countries can cut their tariffs against US if they still feel American administration’s reciprocal rates are too high.

“It is fair to all, no other country can complain and, in some cases, if a country feels that the United States would be getting too high a tariff, all they have to do is reduce or terminate their tariff against us. There are no tariffs if you manufacture or build your product in the United States,” the President said.

Trump claimed that the US has been treated ‘unfairly’ for several years by both its friends and enemies and therefore the new system will bring back ‘fairness’ and ‘prosperity’ back to the “unfair system of trade”.

“It is now time that these Countries remember this, and treat us fairly – A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR AMERICAN WORKERS.”

The President said he has asked his top officials to “do all work necessary to deliver RECIPROCITY to our System of Trade!”