Countries’ reactions varied from Customs The comprehensive imposed by US President Donald Trump on imports between countries calling for negotiation and another calling for a response to measures, which they saw negative and harmful to the economy.
China
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said today, Monday, that threats and pressure are not the proper way to deal with his country after he described the customs duties imposed by Trump as bullying.
The spokesman, Lyn Jian, added at a periodic press conference that customs duties are “a model for unilateral movement, protection and economic bullying.”
He pointed out that the American customs duties imposed in the name of reciprocity only serve the interest of Washington at the expense of the interests of other countries.
Last week, Trump imposed additional customs duties of 34% on Chinese goods as part of exorbitant fees imposed on most of the United States trading partners, raising the total customs duties on China this year to 54%, and China responded with a series of counter -procedures.
The spokesman referred the response to a question related to whether China would enter into negotiations with the United States to other parties.
He said: “The abuse of the United States exploiting the customs duties amounts to depriving states, especially the countries of the southern world, from its right to development,” noting that the gap between the rich and the poor in every country and the suffering of the least advanced countries from a greater negative impact.
He added, all countries should support consultation and “real pluralism.”
Lynn also urged countries to participate in opposing all unilateral forms and economic protection policies, in protecting the international system and the multilateral trade system in accordance with the values of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brlyky3ryvi
Holland
Dutch Minister of Commerce, Rene, Clever, said that the European Union will need to be calm in its response to the United States’s imposition of customs duties on the commercial movement, and that this response is to suit the American step, while seeking to negotiate.
“We need to find ourselves a place on the table with the Americans, and to see ways to reduce these fees,” she added, before a meeting of the Union’s trade ministers in Luxembourg.
“We need to remain calm, and to respond in a way that contributes to reducing the escalation. If there is an immediate escalation from us, it will be reflected in what is happening on the stocks just. But we will be ready to take counter -action if the need is required to make the Americans come to the negotiating table.”
Greece
“The customs duties imposed by Trump may slow economic growth in the euro area by 0.5% and 1%,” the Financial Times reported that the Greek Central Bank, Stornarras Yannis.
Stornarras’s comments come at a time when the European Union countries are considering approving a preliminary set of counter -measures, the target on American imports amounting to 28 billion dollars in the next few days.
The percentage of customs duties imposed by Trump on the countries of the Union is 25% on steel, aluminum and cars imports, as well as a 20% counter -fee that enters into force, on Wednesday, on almost all other goods.
The European Central Bank estimated that imposing 25% comprehensive US customs duties on imports from Europe will reduce the growth of the euro zone by 0.3% in the first year, while the counter -tariffs that the European Union intends to impose on the United States will raise this decrease to 0.5%.
South Korea
South Korea Finance Minister Choi Sing-Mouk said today, Monday, that the government will take measures to support sectors with urgent needs before entering the customs duties imposed by Trump by 25% this week.
In his statement, the minister stressed the necessity of analyzing the impact of customs duties on the macroeconomic economy and preparing support measures for sectors with urgent needs.
On April 2, Trump imposed a comprehensive customs duties on imports to the United States, and a higher customs databases on the “worst violators”, including customs duties by 25% on imports from South Korea.
After Trump’s announcement, Han Duk Sue, Acting President of South Korea, said last week that the government will prepare by the next few days measures to support the auto sector and will seek to negotiate with the Trump administration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmrhewvuclc
South Korea’s exports to the United States recorded a record level of $ 127.8 billion in 2024 and the formation of cars, which is the best -selling product 27% of the total.
The South Korean Ministry of Finance stated that Minister Choi and other policy makers reviewed a strategy to deal with customs duties, before the visit of the Minister of Commerce, Cheung In-Kyo, the United States, which begins tomorrow and will last for two days.
Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shigero Ishiba said today, Monday, that the government will continue its demand for President Trump to reduce customs duties on Japan, but he admitted that the results “will not be achieved overnight.”
“Therefore … the government must take all available means” to alleviate American customs duties to the economy, such as providing financial support to local companies and taking positions to protect jobs, “Ishiba said in a speech in the Japanese parliament.
Towards negotiation
Reuters quoted senior US officials yesterday as saying that more than 50 countries have contacted the White House to start commercial talks, since President Donald Trump announced the imposition of new and huge customs duties.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said that more than 50 countries have started negotiations with the United States since last Wednesday’s announcement, which has made Trump in a position of strength.
Besent nor any other officials mentioned the names of the states or touched on details about the talks, but at the same time negotiations, with this large number of countries may constitute a tremendous logistical challenge to the Trump administration, and it is not clear how long these talks will continue.
Yesterday, the Taiwanese President, Lay Cheng-Meth, offered the cancellation of customs duties on Washington’s imports, to represent the basis for talks with the United States, pledging to remove Taiwan commercial barriers, and said that the Taiwanese companies will increase their investments in the United States.
