Egypt Daily News – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday March 30, 2025 that the counter-tariffs he will announce this week will target all countries, not just a limited number of countries with the largest trade imbalances with the United States.
Trump promised to announce a massive tariff plan on Wednesday, which he called “Liberation Day.” The U.S. president has already imposed tariffs on aluminum, steel, and car imports, as well as increased tariffs on all imports from China. He told reporters aboard Air Force One, “We will start with all countries.”
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett recently stated in an interview with Fox Business that the tariffs would focus on countries with the largest trade imbalances with the U.S., numbering between 10 to 15 countries, though he did not specify them.
Trump views tariffs as a means to protect the U.S. economy from unfair global competition and as a bargaining chip to secure better terms for the United States. However, concerns about the trade war have led to market disruptions and fears of an economic recession in the U.S.
Trump said he would impose a package of counter-tariffs on countries that apply tariffs to U.S. exports.
In February, Trump signed a memorandum directing U.S. trade officials to evaluate each country individually and develop a list of countermeasures tailored to each nation.
The U.S. president hinted last week at the possibility of scaling back the scope of the tariffs and imposing them at lower rates than those applied to the U.S.
U.K.-U.S. Negotiations
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed “fruitful negotiations” regarding the economic prosperity deal between the U.K. and the U.S. in a phone call on Sunday evening. They agreed that the negotiations would continue at a fast pace, according to Downing Street.
Reports indicate that the U.K. is seeking an exemption from tariffs on imports to the U.S.
Intensive negotiations are underway, including efforts to reduce or even eliminate the U.K.’s tax on major U.S. tech companies as part of the bargaining.
A Downing Street spokesperson provided details about the leaders’ Sunday evening call, saying, “They discussed the fruitful negotiations between their teams regarding the economic prosperity deal between the U.K. and the U.S. and agreed that these would continue rapidly this week.”
President Trump announced the imposition of a 25% import tax on all cars entering the U.S., a move expected to affect British luxury car manufacturers such as Rolls Royce and Aston Martin.
This tax will be added to a series of tariffs set to take effect on April 2, which may include a general 20% tax on British products in response to the U.K.’s VAT rate.
Starmer stated that the U.K. “retains the right” to impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. if an exemption for the U.K. is not agreed upon.
Paris Wants to Avoid a Trade War
French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said that Paris still hopes Europe can avoid a trade war with the U.S., but it will respond with similar measures if President Trump imposes the tariffs he announced on Wednesday.
He added in an interview with RTL Radio on Monday, “Europe will never be united and strong if it allows itself to be pushed into a trade war it doesn’t want. However, it must always present a positive agenda.”
Scholz: Europe Open to “Settlement”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that the European Union would respond firmly to the tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but he stressed that the bloc is also open to a settlement.
At the opening of a trade fair in Hannover, Scholz said, “It is clear that as the European Union, we will respond clearly and decisively to the U.S. policy regarding tariffs.” However, he pointed out that the EU “is always ready to work towards a settlement and cooperation.”
He continued, “I tell the United States that Europe’s goal remains cooperation, but if the U.S. leaves us no choice, as it is the case with tariffs on steel and aluminum, we will respond as a united European Union.” In mid-March, tariffs on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum came into effect, and the EU’s response to these tariffs will take effect in April.
As a major manufacturer and exporter of cars, Germany could be heavily impacted by these tariffs, which were the focus of a visit to Washington last week by Finance Minister Jörg Kukies. Germany has promised a tough response to the tariffs, and a government spokesperson emphasized that no options are off the table.
However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Saturday for a “rational” approach to the escalating tariff war between the EU and the U.S., emphasizing the importance of transatlantic unity.
For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU deeply regrets the U.S. decision to impose a 25% tariff on European car imports, adding that Brussels “will continue to seek negotiated solutions” with the U.S.
