讀後心得

Trump has reiterated that tariffs are an important means to promote the U.S. economy during his political career. On April 2, 2024, he announced a "reciprocal tariff" of 10% to 49% on all trading partners, with an additional 34% on China and 32% on Taiwan. This policy has triggered warnings from international economists, who believe it could lead to an economic recession in the United States and affect major technology companies. Trump emphasized that these taxes would not increase the burden on American consumers but would be used for tax cuts and repaying national debt. China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and plans to take countermeasures. There are widespread concerns that this trade policy could exacerbate economic tensions.

Trump's political stance has undergone significant changes over his decades of public life. However, since the 1980s, he has viewed tariffs as an effective means to promote the U.S. economy.

On the afternoon of April 2nd Eastern Time, Trump announced a massive "reciprocal tariff" policy in the White House Rose Garden, imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 49% on all trading partners. The former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund pointed out that this decision has had a major impact on the global trading system. Due to the large number of trading partners and varying tax rates, Trump used charts during his speech to illustrate and specifically list the tax rates for different countries.

• Overall, the U.S. tariffs on Asian countries are the highest, with a 34% increase on China;
• Southeast Asian countries face severe penalties, with 32% on Indonesia, 36% on Thailand, 46% on Vietnam, 48% on Laos, and tariffs in Cambodia reaching as high as 49%;
• For Japan, South Korea, and India, the rates are lighter, at 24%, 25%, and 26% respectively;
• Taiwan will face a 32% tariff.

In Europe, tariffs on the European Union are set at 20%, 31% on Switzerland, while both the United Kingdom and Brazil are at 10%. At the same time, the U.S. will impose a 10% tariff on goods from Heard Island and McDonald Islands, based on the principle of reciprocity, meaning that if a country imposes high tariffs on U.S. goods, the U.S. will take corresponding measures.

Analysis indicates that these high tax rates will have a huge impact on imported goods in the U.S. and could potentially trigger an economic recession. During Trump's presidency, forecasts for the effective import tax rate in the U.S. have also risen significantly, which could impact many countries. Trump emphasized in his speech that these tariffs would not impose additional burdens on American consumers and stated that the revenue from these tariffs would be used to reduce domestic tax burdens and pay off national debt.

Trump hopes to prompt companies to return to the U.S. to set up factories through widespread tariff imposition, further advancing the revitalization of American industry. His policy has sparked mixed reactions, with some voters considering it a necessary measure, although they also anticipate facing short-term economic pain.

Moreover, Trump's policy to eliminate the tax exemption on small packages from China and Hong Kong may impact cross-border e-commerce reliant on the U.S. market, with the motive behind this action being to prevent fentanyl from entering the U.S. In light of the impending high tariffs, some countries are also beginning to consider countermeasures against the U.S., while the U.S. Treasury Secretary has called for no retaliation to avoid escalating tensions.

In his speech, Trump reiterated that the implementation of these reciprocal tariffs will lead to a renaissance in U.S. industry and expressed anticipation for the future effects it will bring.