Donald Trump threatens ‘tax’ on countries that exploit US trade

Donald Trump has floated the idea of a reciprocal tax in the past, promising to slap it on countries, including allies, that take advantage of the United States.

By: AP

Washington | February 13, 2018 08:21 AM IST

2 min read

US President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump threatened anew on Tuesday to impose a “reciprocal tax” on countries that he says abuse their trade relationships with the US, promising to release more details this week. But White House aides said no immediate action was expected.

Trump mentioned the plan during a White House meeting with a group of governors and local leaders who were invited to discuss the USD 1.5 trillion infrastructure proposal he sent to Congress yesterday.

Trump has floated the idea of a reciprocal tax in the past, promising to slap it on countries, including allies, that take advantage of the United States.

The president also addressed ongoing negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement and complained that Canada, which is a party to that trade pact along with Mexico and the US, doesn’t treat the US well. He also complained about Mexico’s treatment of the US.

“We cannot continue to be taken advantage of by other countries,” Trump said. “We cannot continue to let people come into our country and rob us blind, and charge us tremendous tariffs and taxes, and we charge them nothing. We cannot allow that to happen. We cannot allow it to happen.”

He also complained about the US losing “vast amounts of money” in trade with China, Japan, South Korea and other countries.

“They understand where I’m coming from,” Trump said, adding that he’s talked with all of those country and “they understand it.”

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“It’s a little tough for them, because they’ve gotten away with murder for 25 years,” he said. “But we’re going to be changing policy.”

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