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Countries are reacting to widespread tariffs proposed by the U.S.—and there are two distinct approaches.
Some countries are trying to negotiate with the U.S. to lower tariffs. While no deal has been reached yet, President Donald Trump stopped his most extreme duties on Wednesday just hours after their implementation in an effort to negotiate tailored deals with every country, according to the administration.
Others retaliated early in the morning by imposing their own additional tariffs against U.S. products. Trump increased the import duties for Chinese goods in response to the biggest retaliation. The U.S. did not respond to other countries who responded to Trump’s import taxes with their own.
These are the countries that have adopted these different approaches.
Retaliating
Several countries are responding to Trump's tariffs with additional import taxes on U.S. products. Trump has said that if countries retaliate, he will increase the "reciprocal" tariffs on that country.
China
China had already planned to impose a 34% tariff in retaliation last week. In response to this, Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 104%. This went into effect at dawn on Wednesday.
The Chinese government responded by raising its levy on U.S. goods to 84%.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance stated that “the U.S. practice of escalating the tariffs against China is a mistake atop a mistake. It seriously infringes upon China’s legitimate interests and rights, and damages the rules-based system of multilateral trading.”
Trump responded by increasing tariffs to 125% on Chinese goods instead of giving them a reprieve as he had done with other countries.
"As I repeatedly said, China is the most imbalanced economy in the history of the modern world and they are the biggest source of the U..S.'s trade problems." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke to reporters in a conference after the announcement.
European Union
Officials of the European Union voted to implement retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods.
Bloomberg reported that the tariffs were a response to the steel-and-aluminum tariffs that had been implemented in the past.
"The EU considers U.S. tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy," the statement said. "The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the U.S., which would be balanced and mutually beneficial."
Tariffs are set to be implemented on 15 April and could be suspended in the event that both governing bodies reach an agreement.
Canada
The U.S.'s neighbors to the north also focused on auto tariffs, implementing a 25% import tax on American-made vehicles. Like the U.S. counterparts these tariffs exclude USMCA cars.
Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister, reportedly stated during a recent press conference that “we are responding today, and we have responded throughout the year, with carefully calibrated and focused counter-tariffs.”
Canada was included in the countries with a base tariff of 10% under the pause announced Wednesday by Trump, Bessent said, but it was not immediately clear what that meant for tariffs announced previously on the country that were not included in the "reciprocal" framework.
Negotiation
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that 70 countries called to discuss trade deals at the start of the week. Trump posted on Truth Social he had met or spoken with several countries.
Below are some countries confirmed to be negotiating lower tariffs.
Japan
According to reports, Japanese government officials have been talking with Trump since the start of the week.
The country is trying to negotiate a lower tariff of 24% that the U.S. charges on Japanese imports. Japan has been a long-time economic ally of the United States, which imported $148.2 Billion worth of goods last year.
Bessent has said Japan will likely "get priority" because they came forward quickly.
Vietnam
Vietnam's first attempt at a deal was dismissed by Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro early in the week but it reportedly is still attempting to negotiate with the administration.
In recent years, many companies have moved their manufacturing from China due to rising wages and tariffs imposed on China by Trump’s first administration. Nike, for example sources large portions its shoes and clothing from Vietnam, according its most recent annual reports.
Bloomberg reported that a top Vietnamese official has headed to Washington for negotiations.
South Korea
On Tuesday, Trump wrote on the social media site Truth Social that he had "a great call" with South Korean Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
"We have the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries," Trump wrote. "Their top TEAM is on a plane heading to the U.S., and things are looking good."
In the early hours of Wednesday, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff upon South Korean goods.
Update, April 9, 2025: This article was updated to include information about President Donald Trump's pause on "reciprocal" tariffs.
