When asked about how Wednesday’s tariffs would be in force on Wednesday, Trump said Americans “would see in two days.”
Although Trump was light in the details, he seemed to indicate that rates could be lower than those imposed by other countries in the United States.
“So, whatever they charge us, we charge them. But we are being friendlier than they were,” he said. “We have many countries, friends and enemies. I always say friend and enemy, but the friend in many cases is worse than the enemy. They took advantage of us. And we will be very friendly compared to what they were. The numbers will be lower than they have been charging us, and in some cases, perhaps substantially lower.”
President Donald Trump addresses the Air Force one when he goes to Florida, in the joint base Andrews, Maryland, on March 28, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
When asked if any country could be exempt from reciprocal tariffs, Trump said “depends”, and seemed to indicate that he would not point to countries that had smaller commercial deficits with the United States.
Asked by Karen Travers of ABC News if you have heard any concern of car manufacturers about pending tariffs, especially after a meeting today with the president of Stellantis, Trump said no.
“Well, I gave them a great break for a month. I would not charge anything, you know, for a great month, during that first month, and they brought a lot of material to this country, because they could bring it with that rate,” Trump said.
Travers also pressed Trump in the news that China, South Korea and Japan are working together to respond to US tariffs, asking if he worried that the tariffs approached the allies to China. Trump said he was not aware of that news, but that he reduced the concerns.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart
