Countries’ reactions on US President Donald Trump imposed customs duties on all countries of the world, including allies of the United States, at varying proportions.
In what he described as “Liberation Day”, Trump said in a speech in the White House garden that the “historical executive command” that he signed “imposes mutual customs fees on (imports from) the countries of the world.”
He added, “The mutual drawings mean: What they do with us do with them. This is very easy. It cannot be easier than that,” following, “This, in my opinion, is one of the most important days in American history.”
He noted that a minimum customs duties of 10% will be imposed on other countries of the world, while other countries will be imposed on high fees, for example 31% for Switzerland, 24% for Japan and 26% for India.
Trump imposed 34% fees on his country’s imports from China and 20% of the European Union, which are one of the most prominent trade partners of the United States.
China
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has called on Washington that the customs duties that Trump immediately imposed on the countries of the world are immediately canceled, warning that these definitions “expose global economic development at risk” and harm American interests and international supply chains.
The ministry said in a statement that “China is urging the United States to immediately cancel the procedures of unilateral customs duties, and to resolve differences with its commercial partners in a proper way through an equal dialogue,” stressing that “there is no winner in a commercial war, and no exit from protectionism.”
Germany
In Germany, the German Automobile Industry Union (DVA) condemned the customs fees that Trump imposed on his country’s imports from the whole world, calling on the European Union to respond to it strongly as it “will cause heavy losses.”
“The European Union is now demanding to work together and with the necessary power, while continuing to express its willingness to negotiate,” said the union, which represents the German auto industry in a statement.
The United States is a major export market for the German auto industry.
The Federation warned that the loss will not be limited to Germany, but will extend the American consumer and the American auto industry itself.
The statement said that the American consumer will suffer as a result of this commercial protectionism from “high inflation and the shrinking of products”, which would also “reduce pressure on American companies to innovate and weaken their competitiveness.”
In its statement, the Union warned that the customs duties imposed by Trump represented a “great burden and challenge” for the global auto industry, which is “that would also affect employment.”
He appealed to the German Federation, Brussels, to conclude free trade agreements “with the largest possible number of regions in the world” in order to become the European Union “a hero of free and fair global trade.”
According to Trump’s statements, all US imports of the European Union will undergo a 20%customs tariff.
As for imports of cars, the customs duties that the United States will impose on 25%.
The auto industry is one of the pillars of the German economy, which is the largest industrial sector in the country.
Last year, the United States was the largest importer of German cars, with 13.1% of its total exports, although many German manufacturers have factories in America in which they manufacture cars to meet American internal demand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt2kql2gt3o
Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carne, said that the comprehensive customs duties announced by Trump on Wednesday “have radically changed the international commercial system.”
“President Trump has just announced a series of measures that will radically change the international trade system,” Carney added, while speaking from Ottawa.
Carney pointed out that although Canada was excluded from the 10% basic customs duties that Trump said it would apply to most imports to the United States, “the fees for fentianils are still valid, as well as steel and aluminum fees.”
He continued: “As of this evening, fees will enter into force, and the United States has indicated that there will be additional fees for the so -called strategic sectors.”
Carney explained that these drawings will affect “millions of Canadians”, and said: “We will resist these fees with counter -procedures. We will protect our workers”, without going into the details. He continued: “In times of crisis, it is important to unite and it is necessary to act with a goal and strongly, and this is what we will do.”
In a related context, the US Senate approved a legislation yesterday that ended the new customs duties on Canada, just hours after President Donald Trump revealed a set of large -scale new drawings.
The Senate voted with a majority of 51 votes against 48 in favor of approving the draft law and referring it to the House of Representatives, where it is likely to freeze, and in a slap by Trump, 4 Republican members of the Senate with Democrats cooperated to proceed with legislation.
The draft law sponsored by Democrats includes an end to a national emergency declared by Trump on January 22 and linked it to illegal imports of fentanel that causes death from Mexico, Canada and China, which he invoked to target Canada with huge customs tariffs.
Mexico
Mexico President Claudia Shinbum said Mexico is not planning to impose anti -customs duties on the United States.
She stated in a press conference that Mexico will announce today, Thursday, “a comprehensive program, not imposing customs duties in the same way.”
Britain
British Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds pledged to deal quietly with Trump’s decision to impose customs duties by 10% on imports from Britain, as part of his country’s endeavor to reach an economic agreement with Washington.
“The United States is our closest ally, so our approach is the commitment of calm and the conclusion of this agreement, which we hope to reduce the effects of what was announced today,” Reynolds said in a statement after the announcement of the drawings.
He added: “We have a set of available tools, and we will not hesitate to take any action. We will continue to communicate with British companies, including their evaluation of the impact of any other steps we take.”
France
French Prime Minister Francois Bayro said Thursday that the new customs duties constitute a “disaster” for Europe and also for the United States.
“This decision is a catastrophe for the economist.” I think it is also a catastrophe for the United States and American citizens. “
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0evzr6t-rw
European Union
European UNHCR president, Ursula von der Line Thursday, kept the door open to negotiations with the American administration on customs duties, considering that it is possible to find a negotiating and confirmation solution at the same time that the Europeans are “ready to respond.”
But French government spokesperson Sophie Premas said that the European Union intends to respond to the customs duties announced by Donald Trump “targeting digital services.”
“We are sure that we will face negative consequences for production,” she added to the French network (RTL).
“We have a wide range of tools, and we are ready for this trade war. After that, we will consider the way we can support our productive industries,” Primas added.
She noted that Trump “believes he is the master of the world (…) It is an imperialist position that we had forgotten somewhat, but he returns strongly and with great determination.”
Primas noted that the European Union is preparing for a response from two phases, with the implementation of the “first response” in mid -April, in relation to aluminum and steel.
She said that the European Union will then target “all products and services” and the procedures are likely to be ready at the end of April, explaining that this mother is still under discussion.
“But we will also target services. For example, online services that are not currently subject to taxes,” she said, pointing out that the European Union’s response may also relate to “access to our purchase contracts.”
