Donald Trump has ignited global tensions by announcing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, with higher duties on key trade partners such as China (34%), the EU (20%), Japan (24%), and India (26%).
Calling it a “declaration of independence” at a White House event, Trump justified the move as a way to level the playing field. However, the decision has triggered strong reactions from world leaders, many of whom are ready to retaliate.
How World Leaders Responded
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Australia – PM Anthony Albanese
Australia, facing tariffs on its beef exports, criticized the decision, warning that it would ultimately hurt American consumers the most.
“It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs,” Albanese said. “We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth.”
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Canada – PM Mark Carney
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed to fight back, particularly against levies on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, which he said would directly impact millions of Canadians.
“We are going to fight these tariffs with countermeasures,” Carney declared from Ottawa.
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United Kingdom – PM Keir Starmer
The UK Prime Minister warned that a trade war benefits no one and suggested his government is prepared for all scenarios.
“A trade war is in nobody’s interests,” Starmer told Parliament. “We have prepared for all eventualities and will rule nothing out.”
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Germany – Government Response
Germany cautioned against trade wars, emphasizing that they would ultimately harm both sides rather than bring economic benefits.
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Spain – PM Pedro Sanchez
Spain’s Prime Minister vowed to protect Spanish companies and workers, reaffirming his country’s commitment to an open global economy.
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Sweden – PM Ulf Kristersson
Sweden’s Prime Minister took a more diplomatic approach, urging dialogue instead of confrontation.
“We don’t want a trade war … We want to work with the US for a better economic future,” Kristersson said.
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Italy – PM Giorgia Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for negotiations, warning that a trade war would weaken the West.
“We will do everything to avoid a trade war that could benefit other global players,” she said.
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European Union – Collective Response
The European Union announced it will retaliate before the end of April, targeting US tariffs on steel and aluminum first, with sector-by-sector countermeasures to follow.
What’s Next?
With major economies threatening countermeasures, Trump’s new tariffs could escalate global trade tensions in the coming months. While some leaders seek a diplomatic resolution, others are preparing for an all-out trade battle.
Will Trump’s strategy pay off, or will it spark a full-blown trade war? The world watches as the next economic showdown unfolds.