Trump says tariffs to go ahead on April 2 with no exemptions

(Sharecast News) - US President Donald Trump said he would go ahead with reciprocal and additional sector-specific tariffs on April 2 with no exemptions for the steel and aluminium sectors. Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One, Trump said "in certain cases" both types of levies would be placed on imports to the US.

"They charge us and we charge them and then in addition to that on autos on steel on aluminum we are going to have additional tariffs," he said on Sunday.

"April 2 is a liberating day for our country. We're getting back some of the wealth that very, very foolish presidents gave away because they had no clue what they were doing."

The administration has already imposed a 20% tariff rate on Chinese exports, as well as a 25% levy on steel and aluminium. He also slapped a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, but then offered a one-month extension for goods that comply with the USMCA trade deal he negotiated during his first term, but which he is now highly critical of.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com