On Wednesday, President Donald Trump is set to announce a huge sequence of reciprocal tariffs under what his administration has called “Liberation Day,” presumably levying taxes on several nations.
Trump and his administration have long lamented that other nations are practicing unfair trade against the United States and have supported using tariffs to correct the 2024 record $1.2 trillion trade imbalance of the country.
Though previewing this enormous wave of tariffs coming Wednesday, the White House has been tight-lipped about the details of the possible duties and which nations it intends to target.
Still, rumors have started to circulate regarding a list of nations called the “Dirty 15” that might get fresh taxes.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s March 18 interview with FOX Business gave rise to the phrase “Dirty 15,” in which he mentioned the 15% of nations with the worst trade imbalances with the United States. Bessent, nevertheless, did not mention certain nations.
Still, the Trump administration has hinted and highlighted some nations in certain official papers.
For instance, nations mentioned in a notice the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative posted in March for a review of “unfair” trade practices included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The 2024 Commerce Department trade deficit report also mentioned the following nations as having the largest trade deficit with the United States: China, European Union, Mexico, Vietnam, Ireland, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Canada, India, Thailand, Italy, Switzerland, Malaysia and Indonesia.
HeadlinesForever Digital’s request for comment was not answered right away by the Treasury Department.
The White House did not answer a question from HeadlinesForever Digital asking details on which nations will suffer new tariffs and which were on the “Dirty 15” list.
Trump has indicated the tariffs might affect more than only 15 nations. On Air Force One Sunday, he told journalists that tariffs would not only impact 15 nations; rather, “you’d start with all countries.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters Tuesday that Trump was meeting with his trade team that day and that the tariffs will go into force right after a Wednesday Rose Garden ceremony.
Leavitt said on Tuesday that Liberation Day will “go down as one of the most important days in modern American history” and that Trump has spoken with other nations over the possible tariffs they would face.
Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday, “I can tell you there have been quite a few countries that have called the president and have called his team, in discussion about these tariffs.”
Leavitt also dismissed worries that the tariffs would increase consumer costs and would not be effective.
From both sides of the aisle, legislators have expressed worry about how tariffs will affect their constituents, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. In February, McConnell stated that general tariffs would increase “costs for consumers across the board.”
Leavitt, though, said the levies would help the American economy.
Leavitt stated on Tuesday, “The president has a great team of advisors who have been studying these topics for decades; it is going to work. We are concentrated on bringing back the Golden Age of America and turning America into a manufacturing powerhouse.”
Although information on the particulars is limited, the new reciprocal tariffs are anticipated to correspond to tariff rates of other nations and address concerns like government subsidies, regulations, and exchange rate policies to reduce trade obstacles.
Every country in the world, both friend and foe, has ripped us off and mistreated us for DECADES. The Good Ol’ USA should now finally receive some of that MONEY, and RESPECT, BACK. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! In a March post on Truth Social, Trump discussed Liberation Day.
Already in place under the Trump administration are 20% tariffs on imports from China, 25% on steel and aluminum, up to 25% on some items from Mexico and Canada, and 25% on imported auto cars.