NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Mar 5: U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the high tariffs imposed by India and other nations, including China, labeling the situation as “very unfair.” He announced that reciprocal tariffs would take effect next month.
Speaking to a Joint Session of Congress, Trump confirmed that these reciprocal tariffs will begin on April 2.
“For decades, other countries have imposed tariffs on us, and now it’s time we apply them in return. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Canada, and many other countries charge us significantly higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair,” Trump stated Tuesday night.
This address marked Trump’s first address to Congress during his second term, following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
“India imposes auto tariffs exceeding 100% on us,” he noted.
In February, Trump indicated that his administration would “soon” introduce reciprocal tariffs targeting nations like India and China—a stance he reiterated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Washington.
Trump made it clear to Modi that India would not be exempt from the upcoming tariffs, asserting that “no one can dispute” his views on the tariff system.
“China’s average tariffs on our goods are twice as high, and South Korea’s are four times higher. Consider that: four times higher! We provide extensive military and other assistance to South Korea, yet that’s the reality. This issue spans both allies and adversaries. This system is unjust to the U.S., and it always has been,” he stressed.
Trump emphasized that starting April 2, reciprocal tariffs would be implemented, stating that whatever “tariffs they impose on us, we will impose on them. It’s a mutual back-and-forth. If they hinder our access to their market, we will establish barriers to limit their access to ours.
“They don’t even allow us to enter their markets. We have the potential to bring in trillions of dollars, creating unprecedented job opportunities. I achieved this with China and others, while the Biden administration was unable to respond due to overwhelming financial constraints,” he explained.
“For decades, we have been taken advantage of by nearly every country, but that ends now,” Trump concluded. (Agencies)
