Trump urges countries to open markets for tariff reductions, emphasizing trade deals with Japan and Indonesia.
Donald Trump told countries that want tariffs lowered to open their markets fully to American businesses and goods, or no dice.
Having announced new trade deals with Japan and Indonesia, Trump published a series of Truth Social posts telling countries disgruntled at U.S. tariffs that the solution lies with them. “I WILL ONLY LOWER TARIFFS IF A COUNTRY AGREES TO OPEN ITS MARKET. IF NOT, MUCH HIGHER TARIFFS! Japan’s Markets are now OPEN (for first time ever!). USA BUSINESSES WILL BOOM!” Trump wrote in his usual enthusiastic style.
He expanded on this theme in another post. “I will always give up Tariff points if I can get major countries to OPEN THEIR MARKETS TO THE USA. Another great power of Tariffs. Without them, it would be impossible to get countries to OPEN UP!!! ALWAYS, ZERO TARIFFS TO AMERICA!!!” The issue, of course, is that these angry countries impose high tariffs on our goods while demanding no tariffs on their goods. The relics of the post-WWII system, generously rigged by America to benefit war-torn countries, have long outlived any justification.
