US Imposes Tariffs: Trump Declares Policy, Transforming America into a Tariff-bound Nation
In the second term of his presidency, Donald Trump's trade policy took a markedly protectionist and discriminatory turn, characterised by high tariffs on a wide range of imports. Tariffs on Chinese imports reached as high as 145%, while China retaliated with tariffs up to 125% on American goods[1].
The administration also introduced a 10% general tariff on imports from all countries, with higher "reciprocal tariffs" imposed on countries with which the U.S. had large trade deficits, effective April 2025[2]. These tariffs aimed to protect U.S. industries, raise government revenue, reduce the trade deficit, and spur domestic manufacturing and technological leadership, particularly in sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.
However, the policy created trade-offs, making it harder for the U.S. to maintain competitiveness in key industries, for example by making the import of critical materials like copper more expensive, which are essential for AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing[3].
Regarding the relationship with Switzerland and Europe, while specific details on Switzerland are not provided, the broad imposition of tariffs on metals (steel, aluminum, copper) and automobiles from most countries—likely including European ones—would strain trade relations. Europe suffered from the tariffs, disrupting traditional trade flows and impacting export-dependent sectors.
The imposition of these tariffs and the reciprocal retaliations by affected countries led to heightened tension and uncertainty in transatlantic trade relations. An exception to this confrontational approach was the UK's case: the Trump administration negotiated a landmark economic deal in 2025 that reduced tariffs and set specific quotas on autos, showing some willingness to manage tariffs via bilateral agreements[2]. No such deal is mentioned for Switzerland or the broader European Union in the search results, implying that the U.S. trade stance under Trump was largely confrontational and less accommodating toward Europe.
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[1] Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/us-china-trade-war-tariffs-explained.html [2] Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tariffs/trump-to-unveil-plan-to-impose-tariffs-on-allies-idUSKBN1H12L5 [3] Source: https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-trump-administrations-trade-policies-and-their-impact-on-american-companies/
Note: The date of April 2nd is referred to as "Liberation Day," but no specific details about the nature of the "Liberation Day" are provided in this paragraph.
What impact did Donald Trump's policy-and-legislation regarding tariffs have on the U.S.'s general-news, politics, and relationships with other countries? The uncertain trade-and-legislation policy, including the 10% general tariff on imports from all countries, and higher reciprocal tariffs on specific countries, strained trade relations, particularly with Europe, due to higher tariffs on metals and automobiles, which made it more complicated for export-dependent sectors and potentially affected negotiations for bilateral deals like the one with the UK.
