- White House Confirms New Tariffs Will Take Effect Wednesday
- Trump Aims to Tackle “Unfair Trade Practices” with Bold Strategy
President Donald Trump has locked in his plan for sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, with the measures set to take effect on Wednesday following a formal announcement at an afternoon Rose Garden ceremony.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the timeline during a Tuesday briefing, stating that Trump had been meeting with his trade team to refine the strategy aimed at countering “decades of unfair trade practices.”
When asked whether the administration had any concerns about the potential fallout of the tariffs, Leavitt remained firm. “They’re not going to be wrong,” she said. “It is going to work.”
For weeks, the administration has been weighing various approaches. One proposal under consideration was a flat 20% tariff on all imports, a move advisors suggested could generate more than $6 trillion in revenue for the U.S. government. Another option involved setting tariffs based on the trade barriers different countries impose on American goods, with the possibility of exempting nations that strike favorable deals with the U.S.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump signaled that the tariffs would apply broadly, even to U.S. allies. “We will be very nice, relatively speaking,” he said, while insisting that many countries unfairly restrict American exports.
By Tuesday, Leavitt confirmed that Trump had finalized his decision and was working with his trade team to fine-tune the details. When asked whether companies could take steps to avoid the tariffs, she responded that the president was “always up to take a phone call” but remained focused on “fixing the wrongs of the past.”
