President Donald Trump has increased sharp tariffs on imports into China this week, whilst easing them for other countries during trade negotiations this week. He also signed a series of executive orders aimed at repealing Biden-era restrictions.
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it would lower tariffs on other countries, but also announced that the administration would soon raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%. In response, China has raised tariffs on US goods to 125%.
Trump revealed historic tariffs at the White House Rose Garden ceremony for the “American Affluent Again” event on April 2, claiming that these new obligations would create new jobs for American workers.
How did you reach the release date: See Trump’s past comments on tariffs
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent will set out following the tariff announcement at the Rose Garden in the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (Photographer: Jim Law Scalzo via Getty Images/EPA/Bloomberg)
The tariff plan established a 10% baseline tax on all imports into the US and set up customized tariffs in countries that place high tariffs on US goods. A 10% baseline tariff came into effect on Saturday, while other tariffs came into effect in the middle of the night on Wednesday.
But Trump announced in a post in the Truth Society Wednesday Post that mutual tariffs announced last week remain suspended for 90 days.
“At some point, in the near future, China will realize that the era of ripping the US and other countries is no longer sustainable or acceptable,” Trump posted on the Truth social media platform on Wednesday.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said tariffs suggest that China is at odds with other parts of the world.
“China is the most disproportionate economy in modern world history,” Bescent told reporters Wednesday. “They are the biggest source of US trade issues, and in fact, they are issues for other parts of the world.”
That happened again this week.
Shipbuilding, hydraulic execution orders
Trump also signed an executive order this week, which aimed to reinvigorate the US shipbuilding industry amid concerns that China is overtaking the US in production.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, China is responsible for more than 50% of shipbuilding worldwide, compared to just 0.1% from the US.
The executive order requires agencies to develop maritime action plans and directs US trade officials to provide a list of recommendations to address China’s “anti-competitive action in the shipbuilding industry,” among other things.
Trump ends Biden-era water regulations to “make American showers great again.”
President Donald Trump will be telling reporters by signing an executive order at the White House’s oval office on April 9, 2025 (Getty Images)
Trump has also signed an executive order to reverse the Obama-Biden era conservation measures that limited shower water pressure to “make the shower great again.” Former President Barack Obama initially imposed water pressure restrictions, and Trump tried to ease some of them during his first term.
But former President Joe Biden revived the measure, limiting the multi-nozzle showerheads from releasing more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
“I like to take a nice shower and take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump said Wednesday. “I have to shower for 15 minutes until I get wet. There’s drip, drip, drip, drip. That’s ridiculous.”
Preparation for talks with Iran
The Trump administration also announced plans for future talks this week to negotiate with Iran on Saturday. Trump reiterated that these arguments were “direct” nuclear talks, but Iran pushed back the explanation and instead characterized it as “indirect” negotiations.
Middle Eastern envoy Stever Witkoff will travel to Oman on Saturday to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut. However, Iran claims that the debate will be held instead through third parties.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will speak to reporters on Friday, April 11, 2025 at the James Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that Iran will never get nuclear weapons,” Leavitt told reporters Friday. “The president has spoken directly, speak directly to Iran to achieve his goals, and speak directly, and make it very clear to him, and his national security team feels that all options are on the table and Iran can agree to President Trump’s demands or that the president can pay.
Bonny Chu, Danielle Wallace and Caitlin McFall of Fox News contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, covering the White House.
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