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How China, Canada and Other Nations are Responding to Trump's Tariffs - The New York Times

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Major Trade Partners' Responses to Trump's Tariffs

The article primarily focuses on the global response to the Trump administration's new tariffs. Most countries initially attempted negotiations, seeking to avoid further escalation. However, some significant exporters retaliated with their own tariffs. China imposed a 34 percent import tax on US products, prompting further threats from the Trump administration. Canada also implemented retaliatory tariffs. The European Union was preparing a list of US goods to target, while also offering concessions.

Responses Vary Across Countries

Other major economies such as Japan and South Korea, lacking similar leverage, offered concessions to the US. The article highlights the varied strategies employed by different countries, with some, like Vietnam and Taiwan, offering significant tariff reductions to reach an agreement. Others, like Mexico, received exemptions.

Despite some countries' attempts at negotiation and compromise, a White House trade advisor indicated that even eliminating tariffs might not deter the US from its position. The article also notes the uncertain nature of President Trump's willingness to negotiate.

China: Retaliated with a 34% import tax, leading to further threats from the US.
Canada: Imposed retaliatory tariffs on several US goods.
European Union: Preparing retaliatory measures but also seeking negotiation and concessions.
Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, etc.: Offered concessions to avoid further escalation.

The article concludes by showcasing a diverse range of responses from various countries, illustrating the complexities of international trade relations in the face of significant tariff changes.

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission

Note: Boxes sized by value of exports to the United States. Only the 20 largest exporters to the U.S. are shown.

The New York Times

For now, most world leaders are trying to bargain their way out of the sweeping new American tariffs. Just two of the 20 largest exporters to the United States have countered them with new tariffs of their own.

One was China, which said Friday that it would impose a 34 percent import tax on products coming from the United States. That prompted escalation from the Trump administration: Rescind the tax, it warned, or American tariffs on China would go up another 50 percent.

The other was Canada, which last month placed tariffs on a variety of U.S. goods. The European Union, while signalling that it would prefer to negotiate, is said to be working to finalize a list of U.S. goods that it would target.

Other economies — even large ones like Japan and South Korea — don’t have the same leverage, and many are offering concessions. Some are offering to lower their own tariff rates as they try to reach an agreement with the Trump administration.

But it’s unclear how much President Trump wants to negotiate, and a White House trade advisor warned on Monday that even lowering tariffs to zero would not be enough to get the United States to back down.

How major trade partners are responding

PossibleretaliationEuropean Union European Union+20% $606 bil.Preparing to retaliate with wide-ranging levies this week, even as officials also offer concessions and seek to negotiate. No retaliationMexico Mexico+25% *$506 bil.Faces 25 percent tariffs on some imports, but was exempted from the latest round.RetaliatedChina China+34% $439 bil.Matched new tariffs by levying an extra 34 percent duty on U.S. imports.RetaliatedCanada Canada+25% *$413 bil.Imposed retaliatory tariffs against a number of U.S. goods as it faces duties on some Canadian goods.Trying tonegotiateJapan Japan+24% $148 bil.Has few options to retaliate, and depends on U.S. military commitments.OfferedconcessionsVietnam Vietnam+46% $137 bil.Offered to reduce tariffs on U.S. imports to zero.Trying tonegotiateSouth Korea South Korea+26% $132 bil.Sending its trade minister to Washington for talks.OfferedconcessionsTaiwan Taiwan+32% $116 bil.Offering zero tariffs as a starting point for discussion.OfferedconcessionsIndia India+27% $87 bil.Approved a few concessions in March, like reducing tariffs on bourbon, but has since been relatively silent.Trying tonegotiateUnited Kingdom United Kingdom+10% $68 bil.Seeking discussions, while drawing up a list of U.S. products it could potentially hit with retaliatory tariffs.Trying tonegotiateSwitzerland Switzerland+32% $63 bil.“Switzerland cannot comprehend” the tariff calculations, its president said — but officials say they will not retaliate.OfferedconcessionsThailand Thailand+37% $63 bil.Offered to increase imports of energy, aircraft and farm products from the United StatesTrying tonegotiateMalaysia Malaysia+24% $53 bil.Seeking engagement with the United States, while calling on Asian nations to organize a collective response. Trying tonegotiateSingapore Singapore+10% $43 bil.Officials said they would try to understand U.S. areas of concern.Trying tonegotiateBrazil Brazil+10% $42 bil.Brazil’s president said that the country would try to reach an agreement but that it is preparing possible retaliatory measures.OfferedconcessionsIndonesia Indonesia+32% $28 bil.Offered to buy more U.S. products such as cotton, wheat, oil and gas.OfferedconcessionsIsrael Israel+17% $22 bil.Israel had sought to avert the higher rate by voiding duties on American products — seemingly to no avail.Trying tonegotiateColombia Colombia+10% $18 bil.Colombia’s president said he would respond to tariffs only if they harm job creation in the country.Trying tonegotiateTurkey Turkey+10% $17 bil.The trade minister said his country hoped to get the additional tariff lifted. Trying tonegotiateAustralia Australia+10% $17 bil.The tariffs have “no basis in logic,” the prime minister said. But he said Australia would not retaliate.

Note: Goods from Canada and Mexico that fall under the U.S.M.C.A. trade pact — the agreement that replaced NAFTA — are not subject to the 25 percent tariffs.