Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

According to the White House, reciprocal tariffs that President Donald Trump has warned he will impose will be signed on Thursday.

Trump's trade officials have also begun holding talks with key global allies, in the hope of avoiding the worst.

Lee Seung-jae reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday.

This means that Trump could make the announcement as early as Wednesday, but no later than Thursday.

Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security.

"And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. "

Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs.

According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett.

Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.