Clock ticks on Trump's reciprocal tariffs as countries seek reprieve

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The clock is ticking down to Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" when the US president has threatened to unleash a wide range of tariffs against countries running persistent trade imbalances with the United States.

The move -- which comes as Trump has been making unprecedented use of presidential powers -- is driven by his insistence that the world's biggest economy has been "ripped off by every country in the world" and his conviction that reciprocal tariffs are needed to restore parity.

But critics warn that the strategy risks a global trade war, provoking further retaliation by major trading partners like China, Canada and the European Union.

The size of the levies to be announced on Wednesday will vary from country to country – depending on the duties they impose on US goods through import tariffs and other factors like value-added taxes. But the precise plans remain murky.

"Expect the unexpected," said Ryan Sweet, chief US economist at Oxford Economics.

He expects the Trump administration to "take aim at some of the largest offenders."

But what matters ultimately is how broad-based the tariffs are and whether the tool is merely a negotiating tactic or part of a regime shift, he said.

Trump on Sunday dashed hopes he might scale back on his threatened tariffs, saying they would include "all countries."

"You'd start with all countries, so let's see what happens," the president told reporters onboard Air Force One.

"We've been talking about all countries, not a cutoff," he said, insisting however that his tariffs would be "far more generous" than those levied against the United States.

US trade partners have been rushing to minimize their exposure ahead of Trump's deadline, with reports suggesting India might lower some duties.

Besides the reciprocal country tariffs, Trump could also unveil additional sector-specific levies on the likes of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

These would come on top of new auto levies due to take effect Thursday.

Already, China and Canada have imposed counter-tariffs on US goods in response to Trump's earlier actions, while the EU unveiled its own measures, which will start in mid-April.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Trump his government would impose retaliatory tariffs after Washington's action on Wednesday.

'Dirty 15'

Before Trump's comments on Sunday, the upcoming salvo had been expected to target the 15 per cent of partners that have persistent trade imbalances with the United States, a group that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called a "Dirty 15."

The United States has its biggest goods deficits with parties including China, the EU, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Canada and India.

With countries seeking compromise, it is "entirely possible" for fresh tariffs to be swiftly reduced or put on hold, said Greta Peisch, partner at law firm Wiley Rein.

In February, she noted, steep levies on Mexican and Canadian imports were paused for a month as the North American neighbors furthered negotiations.

"There are many different scenarios: delays while talks continue, potential reductions or tariffs being put in place immediately," said Peisch, a former official at the US Trade Representative's office.

Trump has previously said the April 2 tariffs would be "very lenient," adding that "there'll be flexibility."

Brand new Subaru cars are displayed on the sales lot at Serramonte Subaru on March 26, 2025, in Colma, California. (AFP)

'Dark cloud'

But Sweet of Oxford Economics warned that a "dark cloud of uncertainty" hangs over the economy.

Some domestic steel manufacturers and union leaders have welcomed Trump's recent tariff hikes on metals and autos.

But while his proposals are meant to revitalize American industry, they have alarmed many other industries.

The American Automotive Policy Council, which represents carmakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, cited a report Friday by economist Arthur Laffer, which noted that 25-per cent auto tariffs stand to raise US vehicle costs and disrupt supply chains.

While stressing its commitment to Trump's economic vision, the council urged for "a fair and predictable trade environment."

In a letter Thursday, the International Fresh Produce Association cautioned that proposed US tariffs and other countries' retaliation threaten the stability of farmers and businesses.

And the National Retail Federation warned in February that reciprocal tariffs could prove "extremely disruptive," warning of higher costs to households and an erosion of their spending power.

More broadly, companies tend to hold off on investments when rules are unclear and this could weigh on hiring, Sweet said.

Economists also warn that sweeping tariffs could cause a spike in inflation if companies fail to absorb additional costs, passing them on to consumers.

When it comes to legal authorities, Peisch told AFP that Trump could invoke emergency economic powers again to impose reciprocal tariffs.

He could also tap Section 301 of the Trade Act to start country-by-country investigations, the same authority he used to target China in his first presidency.