What the world said about Trump's tariffs

Paris, France (AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced sweeping new tariffs on imports to the United States from countries right across the globe.

Here are international reactions so far from the world's major economies:

China

Beijing said it "firmly opposes" the new tariffs on its exports, and vowed "countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests".

Trump unveiled particularly stinging tariffs of 34 percent on China, one of its largest trading partners, while a 10 percent base tariff on all countries also applies. That comes on top of a 20 percent rate imposed last month.

The tariffs "do not comply with international trade rules", China's Commerce Ministry said.

It urged Washington to "immediately cancel" them, warning they "endanger global economic development".

European Union

The tariffs are a "major blow to the world economy", warned EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.

"There seems to be no order in the disorder. No clear path through the complexity and chaos that is being created as all US trading partners are hit," she said.

After the 20 percent tariffs on EU exports to the United States, she said Brussels was "preparing for further countermeasures" but added it was "not too late to address concerns through negotiations".

Germany

The German Automotive Industry Association said the tariffs would "only create losers" and urged the EU to act "with necessary force, while continuing to signal its willingness to negotiate".

The German chemical industry, which counts the United States as its largest export market, urged the EU to "keep a cool head", stressing "an escalation would only worsen the damage".

Japan

Trade minister Yoji Muto said the 24 percent tariffs on Japanese exports to the United States were "extremely regrettable, and I have again strongly urged (Washington) not to apply them to Japan".

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters the tariffs may contravene World Trade Organization rules and the pair's trade treaty.

India

Ajay Sahai, chief executive of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations told AFP the tariffs will "hurt demand" for its exports.

"The tariffs slapped on India are definitely both high and higher than expected," he said.

But he said competitor nations like China and Vietnam had been hit harder, which opened up space for India to gain a market share.

UK

The UK will "remain calm, and committed" to sealing a trade deal with the United States which could help "mitigate" a 10 percent tariff imposed on British exports to the United States, business minister Jonathan Reynolds said.

However, "we have a range of tools at our disposal and we will not hesitate to act", he added.

France

President Emmanuel Macron will meet representatives of French sectors "impacted by the tariff measures", his office said.

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the new US tariffs on imports from the EU and urged a deal, warning a trade war would "inevitably weaken the West".

"The introduction by the US of tariffs towards the EU is a measure that I consider wrong and that does not suit either party," she said.

Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney warned the tariffs will "fundamentally change the global trading system".

"We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures. We are going to protect our workers," he said.

Brazil

Brazil's Congress approved a so-called "Economic Reciprocity Law" allowing the executive to respond to the 10 percent tariffs on exports from Latin America's biggest economy, which is the second-largest exporter of steel to the United States after Canada.

South Korea

"A global tariff war has become a reality," said acting president Han Duck-soo following Trump's 25 percent tariffs on imports from South Korea.

Han convened an emergency task force and vowed to mobilise "all government resources" to overcome the "trade crisis", urging ministers to minimise the damage through aggressive negotiations with Washington.

Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new tariffs were "not the act of a friend" and would hurt the close allies' relationship.

"These tariffs are not unexpected, but let me be clear: they are totally unwarranted," he said.

Switzerland

After Switzerland was hit with 31 percent tariffs, President Karin Keller-Sutter said the government would quickly decide on the next steps.

"The country's long-term economic interests are the priority. Respect for international law and free trade are fundamental," she said.

Poland

"Friendship means partnership. Partnership means really and truly reciprocal tariffs," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Taiwan

The Taiwanese government found the 32 percent levy "highly unreasonable and deeply regretted it" said cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee.

She said Taiwan would "initiate serious negotiations with the United States".

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Key details on Trump's market-shaking tariffs

Washington, United States (AFP) - After weeks of anticipation, US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new tariffs on trading partners Wednesday, calling it a "declaration of economic independence."

A fresh "baseline tariff" of 10 percent will apply to economies around the world, with steeper rates tailored to those that Washington deemed as bad actors. But there are some exemptions.

What are the details of Trump's latest announcement?

New tariffs

A 10 percent "baseline tariff" kicks in at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on April 5, while elevated rates for those the White House deemed "the worst offenders" take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on April 9.

The steeper additional tariffs impact major US trading partners, with the European Union facing a 20 percent rate and China a 34 percent figure.

For China, the number stacks on an added 20 percent levy Trump imposed earlier this year over its alleged role in the illicit fentanyl supply chain, taking the new additional figure to 54 percent.

Other key partners include India with a 26 percent added rate, South Korea at 25 percent and Japan at 24 percent.

Trump said: "For nations that treat us badly, we will calculate the combined rate of all their tariffs, non-monetary barriers and other forms of cheating."

The numbers, he said, are "approximately half of what they are and have been charging us."

Exclusions

Some goods like copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber, gold, energy and "certain minerals" will not be subject to reciprocal tariffs unveiled Wednesday, according to a White House fact sheet.

Major US partners Canada and Mexico are not hit by the new tariffs either, US officials added.

Trump earlier imposed 25 percent tariffs on imports from both countries, with a lower rate on Canadian energy, and they will continue to face these duties.

Goods entering the world's biggest economy under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will still be exempted.

Should Canada and Mexico reach deals on the levies, however, they will come up against a new regime.

The White House also said that the latest country-based tariffs do not stack atop of sector-specific ones, like those already applied to imports of steel and aluminum.

Cuba, Belarus, North Korea, and Russia are not subject to Trump's new "reciprocal tariffs" as they are already facing sanctions which "preclude any meaningful trade," the White House said.

Other tariffs

On Thursday, new 25 percent tariffs on imported autos will also kick in, bringing fresh challenges to the industry.

Trump earlier imposed 25 percent charges on steel and aluminum imports too, which will be expanded to impact canned beer and empty aluminum cans from Friday.

He has ordered probes into imports of copper and lumber as well, which could lead to further duties.

White House officials said Wednesday that Trump is mulling similar moves on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and possibly critical minerals in the future.

Separately, a 25 percent levy on goods from countries importing Venezuelan oil can take place from April 2. Trump has threatened a similar "secondary tariff" on Russian oil.

Small parcels

On Wednesday, Trump separately ordered an end to a duty-free exemption for small parcels from China, a move likely to severely disrupt the import of popular low-cost products.

The rule has faced heavy scrutiny as US officials pointed to the growth of Chinese-founded online retailers Shein and Temu as a factor behind a surge of shipments using the exemption.

Products imported under the "loophole" from China would be subject to a duty rate of either 30 percent of their value or $25 per item, increasing to $50 per item after June 1. The policy shift kicks in May 2, according to Trump's executive order.