Countries Queue in For Tariff Talks With Trump

Countries are rapidly responding to President Donald Trump’s recently imposed tariffs, with some pledging to retaliate and others seeking to plead with the US and reach reciprocal agreements to lower tariffs. 

President Trump levied a baseline 10% tariff on all imports entering the US with additional tariffs for countries that the White House assesses are trading unfairly with the US. 

Among the countries seeking to reach a no-tariff or reduced-tariff agreement are reportedly Israel, Taiwan, and India.

Taiwan was assigned a 32% tariff after it was calculated they charge the U.S. 64% in tariffs, Israel 17% on calculations they charge the U.S. 33%, and India 26% after it was determined they charge the U.S. 52%.

Trump has defended the tariffs, claiming they are undoing poor trade policy that has caused “a lack of incentive to increase advanced domestic manufacturing capacity; undermined critical supply chains; and rendered our defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries.”

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te expressed he does not seek retaliation against Trump’s tariffs, but rather seeks to negotiate a no-tariff agreement where both countries can freely trade with each other. 

President Ching-te also promised to expand the absorption of US imports.  

“Taiwan does not seek retaliatory tariffs against the US. Instead, we’ll start talking from bilateral 'zero tariffs,” said Ching-te. “To ensure #Taiwan's competitiveness, we'll increase US imports & adopt other measures. Working together, we'll usher in a golden age of shared prosperity.”

Global news sources similarly reported India’s government is opting to negotiate with the Trump administration with the aim of reducing or eliminating tariffs rather than responding with retaliatory tariffs.

Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon meet with Trump, struck a similar tone and canceled all tariffs on the US in hopes of a similar response from the Trump administration. 

“In addition to the advantages to the market and to citizens of Israel, the current effort will allow us to further strengthen the alliance and ties between Israel and the US,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “We will continue to work to reduce barriers and customs, and bolster our special relationship with the US.”

The Floridian Press compiled a full list of tariff percentages by country.