The White House has reaffirmed its commitment to imposing “big tariffs” on April 2, as President Donald Trump prepares to unveil reciprocal levies in what marks a major escalation of his trade war.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the announcement this afternoon, days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at a possible delay in some duties, suggesting Washington would first present other countries with an assessment of their tariff and trade barriers.
Leavitt, however, dismissed any uncertainty, stating that Trump has been “very clear about his intention for April 2” and that there will be “big announcements on reciprocal trade.”
“The president will be highlighting unfair trade practices and the ways in which America has been taken advantage of by nearly every country,” she said. “There will be big tariffs going into effect.”
Trump has vowed to impose reciprocal duties on both U.S. allies and competitors starting April 2, though specific details of the plan remain unclear.
Bessent had told Fox Business that on the day, each country would receive a “number” reflecting their tariff levels and trade barriers, including currency manipulation, non-tariff restrictions, unfair subsidies, and labor suppression.
“We will go to them and say, here’s where we think your tariff levels and barriers stand,” Bessent explained. “If they change their practices, we won’t put up the tariff wall.”
