White House: Trump’s Tariffs to Proceed ‘Without Exceptions’ on April 2

President Trump is set to announce the implementation of his reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, during an event at the Rose Garden of the White House, according to a top administration official. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated today (March 31, 2025) that Trump’s announcement will include country-based tariffs. Leavitt emphasized that while the president remains committed to applying sectoral tariffs, these are not the focus of the April 2 event, with the timeline for their implementation left to Trump’s discretion. Members of Trump’s cabinet will attend the announcement. “The president will unveil a tariff plan to reverse decades of unfair trade practices that have plundered our nation,” said Leavitt to reporters at the White House. “It’s time for reciprocity and time for a president to make a historic change for what’s right for the American people.” Leavitt declined to provide specifics when asked about the percentage of reciprocal tariffs and which countries would be targeted. She responded to questions regarding exemptions for products used by American farmers by stating, “There are no exceptions at this moment.” On Sunday (March 30, 2025), Trump told reporters he plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries, countering speculation that he might limit the scope of his April 2 announcement. Leavitt cited examples of tariff rates from the European Union, Japan, India, and Canada, signaling they may be among the targets of Trump’s new tariffs. “This makes it practically impossible for American products to enter these markets and has put many Americans out of business and jobs over the past decades,” said Leavitt. Trump has designated April 2, 2025, as the start of sweeping tariffs central to his plan to rebalance global trade, boost American manufacturing, and channel tariff revenues into domestic priorities, including significant tax cuts. The president has pre-announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China—the U.S.’s top three trading partners—as well as automobiles, steel, and aluminum. Import duties on copper could follow within weeks. Trump has also threatened tariffs on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and timber. Uncertainty surrounding his evolving plans, often subject to last-minute changes, has sparked fears of disrupted supply chains and increased prices for American consumers. This concern fueled a sell-off last week on Wall Street that continued into Monday. “Wall Street will do just fine with this administration, just as it did during the first term,” said Leavitt.