United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised high tariffs imposed by India, China, and other countries, calling them “very unfair” and announcing that reciprocal tariffs will be implemented from April 2.
Speaking in his first address to Congress after securing a second term, Trump asserted that the US would impose the same tariffs on imports from foreign nations as those countries impose on American exports.
“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico and Canada charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair,” Trump said. “India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%.”
Trump reiterated that his administration would “soon” impose reciprocal tariffs on countries such as India and China, a position he had previously communicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modi’s visit to Washington. “Nobody can argue with me on the tariff structure,” he stated.
“China’s average tariff on our products is twice as high, and South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher. Think of that—four times higher. And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea. But that’s what happens. This is happening by friend and foe. This system is not fair to the United States. It never was,” he said.
Trump said that from April 2, the US would impose reciprocal tariffs matching those of other countries.
“Whatever they tariff us, we will tariff them. That’s reciprocal back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them. If they do non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we will do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market. They don’t even allow us in their market. We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars that create jobs like we have never seen before,” he said.
“US Will No Longer Be Woke”
Turning to domestic policy, Trump declared that hiring in the US would be based on merit and that the country “will no longer be woke”.
He announced that his administration had eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion policies across the federal government, the private sector, and the military.
“We believe that whether you are a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer, or an air traffic controller, you should be hired and promoted based on skills and competence, not race or gender,” he said. “Wokeness is trouble, wokeness is bad, it’s gone, and we feel so much better for it, don’t we?”
Trump added that his administration had dismissed Biden-era lawsuits against police and fire departments that were accused of racism for using written tests, physical exams, and credit checks in hiring.
Launching an attack on the previous administration, Trump stated that the country had suffered its worst inflation in 48 years and that his top priority was economic recovery.
“Less than two months in office, I am just getting started,” he said.
“America is back. Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country.”
He claimed his administration had accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations achieved in four or eight years.
“Our spirit is back, our pride is back, and our confidence is back. The American Dream is surging bigger and better than ever before. The American Dream is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback, the likes of which have never been witnessed and perhaps will never be witnessed again,” he said.
“We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer,” Trump concluded.
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