by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – President Trump signed a presidential memorandum on reciprocal trade on Thursday, instructing federal agencies to explore adjusting U.S. tariffs to mirror the duties and economic barriers imposed by other nations on U.S. products.
“They charge us a tax or tariff and we charge them,” Trump said during a press event at the White House.
“We want a level playing field,” Trump said.
Contrary to international concerns, the memo does not immediately enact tariffs.
Instead, it tasks the Commerce Department with collecting data on trading partners’ tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
These findings are to be reported to the president, and the Commerce Department is required to deliver a report on achieving reciprocal trade status by April 1, as stated by Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick.
In a post on Truth Social following the event, Trump outlined his plan, which includes measures for “subsidies” and “Nonmonetary Tariffs and Trade Barriers” used by other nations. He emphasized, “America has helped many Countries throughout the years, at great financial cost. It is now time that these Countries remember this, and treat us fairly.”
Implementing reciprocal tariffs would fulfill a Trump campaign promise and tackle a major trade issue for the president and his economic advisors.
Trade experts noted this week that the reciprocal-trade action could undermine the World Trade Organization’s “most favored nation” status, which mandates equal tariff and regulatory treatment among member countries.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Israel expanded its military campaign against Hezbollah on Monday, striking more than 70 targets across Lebanon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to increase pressure on the Iranian-backed terror group following a sharp rise in drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel.
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Kansas City can use its public accommodation ordinance to require Christian counselors to counsel gay married couples despite the counselors’ biblical convictions on marriage and sexuality.
Tens of thousands of evangelical Christians gathered in the Netherlands for one of Europe’s largest multi-day Christian events, with organizers and participants expressing hopes for spiritual revival in the nation and across Europe.
President Donald Trump pushed back Monday against sharp criticism from Republicans and former administration officials over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement, insisting that any final accord must prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or it will not be signed.
President Donald Trump said Monday that countries involved in negotiations over Iran should be required to join the Abraham Accords, signaling that the White House is seeking to turn a possible Iran agreement into a wider regional realignment that includes normalization with Israel.
Tensions remained high in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Sunday after at least tens of thousands of people demanded elections and rallied against what they view as the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vučić, with violence erupting after the protest and more than 20 people arrested.
Investigations were ongoing Sunday into the killing of three senior Kuki-Thadou Christian church leaders by unidentified gunmen in India’s northeastern Manipur State, Christian investigators told Worthy News.