According to US National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, the administration has been inundated with requests for negotiations after the implementation of a 10% “baseline” tariff on all imports to the US came into force on April 5.
The tariff escalation follows a dramatic timeline: a 25% levy on steel and aluminum took effect on March 12, followed by a 25% tax on automotive imports announced on March 26 and applied from April 2.
Additional 25% tariffs targeting key sectors from over 60 countries, identified by the administration as “worst offenders”, are due to kick in on April 9.
While some US allies — including Indonesia and Taiwan — have publicly ruled out retaliation, others are preparing countermeasures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warned that the EU stands ready to “defend its interests through proportionate counter-measures.” Starmer, whose government has already vowed to shield British industry, declared, “The world as we knew it has gone.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is en route to Washington for direct talks, while Starmer also consulted with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and CDU leader Friedrich Merz to coordinate Europe’s response.
Markets have responded with volatility, and economists warn that consumer prices are likely to rise. Despite the uncertainty, President Trump has urged Americans to “hang tough” and framed the tariffs as a necessary correction to decades of trade imbalance.
As the White House doubles down on protectionism, global leaders are bracing for prolonged economic disruption and a potential reordering of the post-war trade system
