During a briefing en route to the Super Bowl, President Donald Trump announced plans to introduce new tariffs on specific imports to the United States.
On February 9, the Philadelphia Eagles halted the Kansas City Chiefs’ ambitions of a three-peat by securing a 40-22 victory, claiming the Super Bowl LIX trophy.
Trump, aged 78, was among the over 73,000 NFL fans at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, having traveled from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida aboard Air Force One for the event.
While on the flight, the 47th President informed reporters of his intention to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum products entering the U.S.
“Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25 percent tariff,” Trump stated to reporters aboard the aircraft.
When questioned about whether the tariffs would also apply to aluminum imports, Trump confirmed with a simple, “aluminum, too.”
The former Apprentice host mentioned that ‘reciprocal tariffs’ would likely be revealed on ‘Tuesday or Wednesday.’
As reported by the Associated Press, this suggests the U.S. could impose import duties on products when another country has already levied duties on U.S. goods.
“If they are charging us 130% and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going to stay that way,” Trump elaborated.
Sky News noted that following Trump’s announcement, share prices in Asian steelmakers mostly declined on Monday, February 10, except for those with U.S. operations.
This trade policy discussion takes place shortly after the Republican leader indicated that tariffs on the European Union (EU) would be imposed ‘pretty soon.’
“They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products, they take almost nothing and we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products,” Trump said, according to the BBC.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a timeline, but it’s going to be pretty soon.”
French President Emmanuel Macron questioned why Trump prioritized tariffs on the EU, calling it one of his ‘top priorities.’
“Is the European Union your first problem? No, I don’t think so. Your first problem is China, so you should focus on the first problem,” Macron stated in a CNN interview.
Macron also warned that the metal tariffs could negatively affect Americans.
“It means if you put tariffs on a lot of sectors, it will increase the costs and create inflation in the U.S. Is it what your people want? I’m not so sure,” Macron explained.
When asked if he was prepared to confront Trump, Macron replied, “I already did so, and I will did (sic) it again.”
Trump has also previously suggested a 25% import tax on all Canadian and Mexican goods.
“Anybody that loves and believes in the United States of America is in favor of tariffs. They should have never ended, in favor of the Income Tax System, in 1913. The response to tariffs has been FANTASTIC!,” he commented on his platform, Truth Social.
However, he recently put a 30-day hold on these tariffs after Mexico and Canada retaliated with their own counter-tariffs.
In addition to announcing the new metal tariffs, Trump signed a proclamation declaring February 9 as the inaugural ‘Gulf of America Day’ during his flight on Air Force One.
This proclamation follows his earlier decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico after his inauguration in Washington.
“Make America great again, that’s all we care about,” Trump stated, noting the pen he used was now ‘famous.’