Washington, D.C.- The United States has officially launched President Donald Trump’s sweeping new trade policy, imposing a unilateral 10% tariff on imports from dozens of countries starting this Saturday. The decision marks the most dramatic disruption to international trade norms since World War II, drawing sharp criticism and retaliatory threats from major global economies.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the 10% tariff now applies to all goods entering from countries including Australia, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. Starting next week, even steeper tariffs—up to 50%—will hit imports from 57 key trading partners, with Chinese goods facing a massive 54% levy.

“This is the single biggest trade action of our lifetime,” said Kelly Ann Shaw, former White House trade adviser. Speaking at the Brookings Institution, she called the move a “seismic shift” that challenges the foundation of decades-long global trade consensus.
 

 A Market Meltdown

Markets reacted with alarm. Trump's surprise announcement wiped $5 trillion in value from the S&P 500 within 48 hours. Oil and commodity prices plummeted, and bond markets surged as investors sought safer assets. The tremor exposed growing recession fears tied to the uncertainty of America’s new protectionist stance.

China responded swiftly, saying, “The market has spoken.” Beijing hit back with its own 34% tariff on all U.S. goods and new export controls on rare earth minerals vital to global tech production. "This is an economic revolution," Trump posted defiantly on social media. "And we will win."
 

Allies and Adversaries React

The global backlash has been swift and varied. French President Emmanuel Macron called for unity, warning, “A trade war is in no one’s interest.” Japan, facing a 24% tariff, is seeking urgent talks, while Israel will see a 17% duty. Taiwan, now subject to a 32% tariff, held emergency meetings with tech leaders to assess the fallout.

Vietnam, which once benefited from earlier Trump-era tariffs on China, is now reconsidering its strategy after a new 46% tariff was imposed on its exports.

Italy’s Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti urged caution, saying retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. could backfire. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, speaking remotely at a forum in Italy, advocated for "zero tariff" trade between the U.S. and Europe.
 

Exemptions and Grace Periods

A few sectors are spared. Pharmaceuticals, crude oil, semiconductors, and uranium are temporarily exempt. There’s also a 51-day grace period for goods already in transit as of April 5, giving importers until May 27 to avoid the new duties.

Canada and Mexico, though exempt from the new wave, remain subject to a 25% tariff on non-compliant goods under the updated North America trade pact.
 

The Big Picture

Trump’s tariff strategy signals a return to hardline economic nationalism and could redefine the future of global commerce. As negotiations, reprisals, and supply chain shifts unfold, the world is watching to see whether this gamble leads to a better deal for the U.S.—or a prolonged global downturn.