During his presidency, Donald Trump launched a series of global tariffs under the banner of "America First", aiming to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, protect domestic industries, and reshape global trade relationships.
🔩 1. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs (Section 232 Tariffs)
Date: March 2018
Tariffs:
25% on imported steel
10% on imported aluminum
Countries Affected:
Almost all U.S. trading partners, including:
EU
Canada
Mexico
China
Turkey
India
Japan
South Korea (received quota exemption)
🔁 Retaliation:
EU: Tariffs on U.S. products like motorcycles (Harley-Davidson), bourbon, and jeans.
Canada: Tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum, and food items.
India: Duties on U.S. apples, almonds, and walnuts.
🇨🇳 2. China – U.S. Trade War
Phases: 2018–2020
Tariffs Imposed:
Over $360 billion worth of Chinese goods faced U.S. tariffs.
China retaliated on over $110 billion in U.S. exports.
📦 Goods Affected:
U.S. Tariffs: electronics, machinery, furniture, clothing.
China Tariffs: soybeans, cars, lobsters, energy products.
📝 Phase One Deal (Jan 2020):
China agreed to increase U.S. goods purchases.
Many tariffs remained in place.
🇪🇺 3. European Union
Steel & Aluminum Tariffs triggered EU retaliation.
U.S. threatened auto tariffs on German cars.
Airbus-Boeing Dispute: Trump imposed tariffs on $7.5 billion in EU goods (e.g., wine, cheese, aircraft parts) due to WTO ruling.
🇨🇦 🇲🇽 4. Canada & Mexico
Also hit with metal tariffs, despite being close allies.
Retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods.
Trump renegotiated NAFTA, resulting in USMCA (effective July 2020).
🇮🇳 5. India
India lost GSP trade benefits (worth billions in tariff-free exports).
Imposed retaliatory tariffs on 28 U.S. products (almonds, walnuts, apples).
Trade tensions grew over digital taxes, pharma, and agriculture.
🇹🇷 6. Turkey
Trump doubled tariffs on Turkish steel (50%) during a diplomatic dispute in 2018.
Caused currency crash in Turkey and intensified tensions.
🌎 Summary of Global Impact
Region Trump Tariff Impact
China Massive trade war
EU Steel tariffs, Airbus retaliation
Canada/Mexico Tariff conflict, led to USMCA
India GSP revoked, retaliated
Turkey Tariffs doubled during dispute
Global Disruption to global trade flows and alliances
💥 Global Consequences
Rise in trade tensions
Slowdown in global economic growth (pre-COVID)
Supply chain shifts (out of China to Vietnam, India, Mexico)
WTO cases against U.S. tariffs