What happened to Trump's softer tone on tariffs?

by Skylar Woodhouse

President Donald Trump said he plans to start his reciprocal tariff push with “all countries,” tamping down speculation that he could limit the initial scope of tariffs set to be unveiled April 2. 

“You’d start with all countries, so let’s see what happens,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I haven’t heard a rumor about 15 countries, 10 or 15.” 

Trump is set to launch so-called reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a centerpiece of his plan to rebalance global trade and boost US manufacturing while collecting tariff payments to fund his domestic policy priorities, including an extension of tax cuts from his first administration and additional tax promises made during the 2024 campaign.

The White House hasn’t yet outlined what tariffs are coming, how they’ll be calculated, or what countries will need to do to secure coveted exemptions. Trump has also said his tariffs will account for other countries’ non-tariff barriers, though hasn’t detailed how those calculations will be made. The administration also hasn’t specified when these new tariffs will take effect. 

“We’re going to be much nicer than they were to us, but it’s substantial money for the country,” he said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this month said the Trump administration’s coming action would focus on what he called the “dirty 15,” a percentage of the world’s economies that have substantial tariff and other barriers and together account for “a huge amount of our trading volume.” Though Bessent didn’t name them, a Bloomberg Economics report shows 15 US trade partners, nine of which are in Asia, together account for more than 75% of all US imports and were also included in a recent administration document inviting public comment to identify any potential unfair trade practices. 

The Trump administration has signaled that each country’s reciprocal tariffs could form the starting point for future negotiations, a stance that has sent countries rushing to offer concessions and play up their trade relationships with the US. At the same time, Trump has also said he means to limit exceptions to his tariff push.