Trump: "Differential tariffs for countries worldwide"…Reaffirms use of Trade Act Section 301 and others

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 3rd (local time) that he plans to announce new differential tariffs for countries around the world, claiming that all of those nations want to keep their existing trade deals with the United States.

Speaking to reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House in Washington, D.C. that day, Trump said, "We have up to five months (during which 'global tariffs' can be imposed), and in that time we can go up to (the maximum) 15%."

He added, "We are conducting various studies and will announce different tariffs for each country."

He was reiterating his position that, to replace the reciprocal tariffs invalidated by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the administration would impose global tariffs of 10–15% for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act, and during that period push ahead with country- and product-specific tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

Trump said, "Every country wants to sign what they already have—in other words, what we have," adding, "They want to produce the same deal by my using other authorities."

He also remarked, "We will raise it (the tariff rate) somewhat," and added, "They want to stay with that deal, so we will probably be able to do it quite easily."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who attended the talks, said, "The Supreme Court reaffirmed the president's authority to implement an 'embargo'," adding, "(Trade Act) Section 301 and (Trade Expansion Act) Section 232 have withstood more than 4,000 lawsuits, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce will open investigations, and we will proceed with that process."

Roh Jeong-dong, Hankyung.com reporter dong2@hankyung.com