NYT and WP: "Considering a 20% Universal Tariff"
White House: "You Will Know Within 24 Hours"
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the afternoon of the 2nd (local time) that tariffs would take effect immediately upon the announcement of reciprocal tariffs, the White House stated on the 1st. Specific tariff rates were not confirmed.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt reaffirmed this during a briefing that day.
Press Secretary Levitt said, "Tomorrow's (the 2nd) historic action by President Trump will improve America's competitiveness across all industries, reduce the massive trade deficit, and ultimately protect the U.S. economy and national security," adding, "Starting tomorrow, the era of America being taken advantage of will end."
Earlier, the White House announced that President Trump planned to deliver a speech at 4 p.m. on the 2nd (5 a.m. on the 3rd Korean time) at the White House Rose Garden under the theme "Making America Wealthier." This suggested that President Trump would announce reciprocal tariffs at this event.
Reports emerged that the Trump administration was considering a universal tariff plan imposing a single 20% rate, but the White House did not confirm this. When asked about this, Press Secretary Levitt said, "The President said he made a decision yesterday, but I don't want to speak ahead of him," adding, "You will know within about 24 hours."
On the same day, The New York Times (NYT), The Washington Post (WP), and others reported that the White House was considering imposing a 20% single tariff on nearly all U.S. imports as one option. However, foreign media also reported that the White House was discussing imposing different tariffs by country.
President Trump has repeatedly emphasized that reciprocal tariffs are a mutual response to tariffs imposed by other countries and that the tariff rates would be lower than those imposed on the U.S. by those countries.
When asked how many countries had contacted President Trump to lower tariffs, Levitt said, "I don't know the exact number, but quite a few countries have called President Trump and his team to discuss tariffs," adding, "However, the country President Trump cares about the most is the United States."
Regarding the possibility of changes after the reciprocal tariff announcement on the 2nd, she said, "The ultimate change will occur when companies decide to do business in the U.S." When asked if the administration would be open to negotiations if other countries hinted at changing their tariffs on the U.S., she replied, "The President is always open to taking calls."
Concerns have been raised that President Trump's tariff policy could impact the stock market and affect retirees' retirement funds. Levitt acknowledged this as a "legitimate concern" but said, "The President is addressing those concerns every day." She also mentioned plans to pursue additional tax cuts in the future.
Levitt also reaffirmed that a 25% tariff on foreign-made automobiles would take effect from the 3rd. When asked whether the tariff exemption for Canadian and Mexican goods under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was set to expire on the 2nd, would be extended again, she said, "I will let the President speak on that."
Meanwhile, as Saudi Arabia is mentioned as President Trump's first overseas visit, Levitt said, "The President will head to Saudi Arabia in May."
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