‘The whole world will pay’: Trump declares US will impose tariffs on all countries

Until now, Washington had been considering reciprocal tariffs aimed at countries with large trade imbalances or those imposing duties on American goods. However, Trump’s latest stance erases these distinctions, introducing a sweeping policy that affects all nations equally.

Justifying his decision, Trump said, “They ripped us off like no country has ever been ripped off in history, and we’re going to be much nicer to them than they were to us. But it’s substantial money for the country nevertheless.”

The announcement comes as part of Trump’s long-standing promise to restore economic dominance to the United States by penalising nations perceived to exploit American trade policies.

China, which has already borne the brunt of Trump’s trade war with tariffs on steel, aluminium, and other imports, is expected to retaliate fiercely. After Washington imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and 10 per cent on China starting February 1, Beijing had denounced the move as a “serious violation” of international trade norms and called for the US to “engage in frank dialogue and strengthen cooperation.”

As tensions escalate, additional tariffs are set to hit automobile imports starting April 3, with further duties looming over foreign computer chips, pharmaceuticals, and even oil imports from Venezuela. Mexico and Canada, already grappling with trade restrictions, will also face sweeping penalties on their auto and tech exports.

Despite speculation that only about 15 nations—dubbed the “Dirty 15” by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—would face these tariffs, Trump brushed aside such claims. “We’ve been talking about all countries—no cutoffs,” he declared, making it clear that no nation would be exempt.