US President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, stating that “our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, plundered” by other nations. This aggressive rhetoric came as Trump showed his willingness to dismantle a global economic system that the United States helped to build after World War II.

Trump referred to the day as “liberation day” as he announced the imposition of duties on almost all countries, including 51 African states. The tariffs include a baseline of 10% on all imports, with much higher duties on some of the country’s biggest trading partners. According to Trump, the tariffs will give the United States protection against countries seeking to inflict “economic harm” on the nation.

Trump also claims that the new duties will lead to “growth like you haven’t seen before, and it’ll be something very special.” He added that American workers have suffered greatly due to the policies of other countries, with foreign leaders stealing jobs, foreign cheaters ransacking factories, and foreign scavengers tearing apart the American dream.

Some of the countries Trump has imposed tariffs on are among the poorest and most vulnerable in the world, including those experiencing civil wars or severe economic crises. Towards the end of his speech in the White House’s Rose Garden, Trump predicted that people would remember the day of the announcement. He believes that the public might look back on his economic policies and conclude he was right, despite many experts warning of a major upheaval for the US economy.

Trump’s move reverses decades of trade liberalisation, leaving markets across the world reeling. Concerns have been raised that the new duties will slow growth, hit corporate earnings, and stoke global inflation. After his speech, Trump signed two executive orders to cement the new tariff policies.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/03/us-president-announces-global-tariffs-including-on-51-african-nations/