The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced Thursday that he will impose “Reciprocal tariffs” To countries that tax American products, with the aim of equalizing the rates that these nations apply to US exports, and with the European Union (EU) among the main victims.
“I have decided that, for reasons of justice, I will impose reciprocal tariff Oval, where he advanced that he intends to sign a memorandum with that order.
The new tariffs They will not immediately go into forcebut in a period of “weeks” or “months”, and the first to be punished will be those with a higher commercial deficit with the United States, according to a senior official before the memorandum signing.
“Everyone has taken advantage of the US and we have paid a high price. For them and treat us fairly, “Trump said.
The document signed by Trump focuses on two aspects that, according to him, have generated a “unfair” treatment for the US In international trade: tariffs imposed by other countries to US exports and the so -called “non -tariff barriers”, ranging from regulations to rates for currency change.
Each nation will face custom tariffs, according to the aforementioned official. A uniform rate will not apply 10% or 25%, but the administration will establish specific rates based on tariffs and commercial “barriers that each nation imposes on the US.
The president was especially critical of the European Union, which he accused of being “absolutely brutal in trade” and imposing what he described as “An undercover tariff” through VAT (Value Added Tax), which varies between 17% in Luxembourg and 27% in Hungary.
“There is a reason why Germany sells more cars than we sell them, and it is not because of the quality of manufacturing or American design. It is simply due to unfair commercial practices, and that is lethal. It is a hidden tariff“Trump said. As explained to Efe a senior official before the signing of Trump’s memorandum, the European automotive sector could face a significant increase in its rates.
Currently, Washington applies a 2.5% tariff to imported vehicles, but this figure could rise to 27%. At present, the EU imposes a 10 % tariff on imported cars, in addition to community VAT, which is minimum of 17 %.
Therefore, with the new policy, the US would apply an equivalent rate, adding a 10% tariff and the corresponding percentage of VAT, which could raise the total rate to 27%.
The details of the tariffs in the executive order have been deliberately left at a flexible point, since Washington’s intention is that each country renegotes the rates currently imposed on US products, according to the aforementioned official.
Thus, the measure announced on Monday is part of Trump’s strategy to use tariffs as a pressure tool To obtain concessions not only in commerce, but also in migration and security, with the expectation of forcing each country to sit down to negotiate directly with the United States.
Source: Lasexta
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