President Trump unleashes sweeping tariffs, shaking global trade

US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on imports, a move set to disrupt global trade relations and impact economies worldwide.

The new policy imposes a baseline 10 percent tariff on all goods entering the US, with even higher rates for about 60 trade partners labeled as the "worst offenders," including China and the European Union.

The announcement, made at the White House, follows Trump's long-standing criticism of global trade policies, which he claims have disadvantaged American workers and businesses.

He justified the decision by stating that other nations have imposed unfair trade barriers on the US for decades.

"Today we are standing up for the American worker, and we are finally putting America first," Trump declared in the Rose Garden, calling the move "one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history."

The tariffs, set to take effect on April 5, will see higher rates introduced on April 9 for select nations.

The UK will face a 10% tariff, while the European Union will be hit with a 20% duty.

China, which already faced trade restrictions from previous policies, will now be subject to a total tariff rate of at least 54%.

Tariffs will also increase for Japan (24%) and India (26%), with Vietnam and Cambodia facing 46% and 49%, respectively.

Lesotho, a small southern African nation, will see tariffs on its exports rise to 50%.

The decision has sparked widespread concern among economic analysts, who warn that the move could lead to higher consumer prices in the US, a slowdown in global growth, and potential recessions in several economies.

Some experts fear a ripple effect that could destabilize international markets.

Ken Rogoff, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, reacted to the news, stating, "He just dropped a nuclear bomb on the global trading system."

Despite the broad scope of the tariffs, the White House confirmed that trade relations with Mexico and Canada would remain unchanged for now, as they were not included in the list of affected countries.

The Trump administration has previously implemented tariffs targeting China, foreign vehicles, steel, aluminum, and certain goods from Mexico and Canada.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the new tariffs could generate $2.2 trillion in revenue by 2034.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a warning to other countries, advising them against retaliation. "My advice to every country right now is, do not retaliate," Bessent told Fox News.

"Sit back, take it in, and let's see how it goes. Because if you retaliate, there will be escalation. If you don't retaliate, this is the high watermark," he added.

With tariffs set to impact trillions of dollars in trade, Americans could soon see higher prices on a wide range of consumer goods, including clothing, European wine, bicycles, and toys.

Economists note that the tariff rates now resemble those in place in 1910, underscoring the severity of the policy shift.

Olu Sonola, head of US economic research at Fitch Ratings, warned that many nations would struggle to cope with the economic fallout.

"Many countries will likely end up in a recession," he said.