Nations can keep away from Trump’s April tariffs by reducing commerce limitations, Bessent says

U.S. President Donald Trump.
| Photograph Credit score: REUTERS

The Trump administration on April 2 will give buying and selling accomplice international locations a proposed U.S. tariff price based mostly on their very own charges, non-tariff commerce limitations and different elements— together with a possibility to barter to keep away from a “tariff wall,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Tuesday (March 18, 2025).

“On April 2, every nation will obtain a quantity that we imagine represents their tariffs,” Bessent stated on Fox Enterprise Community’s “Mornings with Maria.” “For some international locations, it could possibly be fairly low, for some international locations, it could possibly be fairly excessive.”

Mr. Trump has stated that his “reciprocal tariffs” to deliver U.S. tariffs to different international locations’ ranges and offset commerce practices his administration deems unfair will take impact on April 2. However Bessent’s feedback point out that there could also be a interval of negotiation earlier than assortment of latest import duties begins.

“We’re going to go to them and say, ‘Look, this is the place we expect the tariff ranges are, non-tariff limitations, foreign money manipulation, unfair funding, labor suppression, and if you’ll cease this, we won’t put up the tariff wall,'” Bessent stated of buying and selling companions.

Nations that fail to cut back their commerce limitations will face steeper tariffs aimed toward defending the U.S. economic system, its staff and industries, Bessent stated.