US President Donald Trump is set to unveil a new tariff plan on April 2, calling it “Liberation Day,” in his first Rose Garden press conference since starting his second term. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the full cabinet will be present, but details of the plan remain unclear, as the administration has floated multiple—sometimes conflicting—proposals in recent weeks.
A push for ‘fair trade’
Leavitt said Trump’s move aims to “roll back the unfair trade practices that have been ripping off our country for decades.” She hinted that the president could introduce reciprocal tariffs, meaning the US would match the tariff rates that other countries impose on American goods.
For example, she pointed to Canada’s 250 per cent tariff on American dairy products, arguing that such policies make it nearly impossible for US businesses to compete. “It has put a lot of Americans out of business and out of work over the past several decades,” she said. “So it’s time for reciprocity.”
What will new tariffs cover?
Even with the big announcement just days away, it’s still unclear which tariffs Trump will implement. Over the past few weeks, his team has discussed multiple options, including:
– Reciprocal tariffs on all countries
– A 25 per cent tariff on Mexico and Canada, but with delayed enforcement
– Specific tariffs on lumber, copper, pharmaceuticals, and microchips
Trump himself has given mixed signals. Last week, he suggested that his plan would be “far more generous” than other nations’ tariffs on the US. But on Sunday, speaking aboard Air Force One, he said reciprocal tariffs would be applied to all countries initially, with room to negotiate later. With so much uncertainty, all eyes will be on Trump’s Rose Garden announcement to see how his administration plans to reshape US trade policy.
