The Tariffs Imposed by the Trump Administration: A Deep Dive into Global Trade and Potential Outcomes
- Marcelo Serafim
- Apr 7
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 10
In early 2025, the Trump administration rolled out a series of aggressive tariffs on imports from numerous countries, marking a significant shift in U.S. trade policy. On February 1, 2025, President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on most goods from Canada and Mexico, alongside a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, citing national security concerns over illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl. By April 2, dubbed "Liberation Day" by Trump, he declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), introducing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, effective April 5, with higher rates for 57 nations starting April 9. China faced an effective 54% tariff rate, while the European Union, Japan, and South Korea saw rates of 20%, 24%, and 25%, respectively. These measures aim to address a $1.2 trillion U.S. trade deficit and re-shore manufacturing, but they have sparked widespread concern.
