Trump relaunches on duties: ‘10% for all countries’

The White House confirms the US president’s commitment to maintaining basic tariffs, even after any understandings. Meanwhile, billion-dollar deal with London and talks with German Chancellor Merz to reduce tensions with the EU

US President Donald Trump is determined to maintain the basic 10% tariffs on all countries, including the UK. This was confirmed by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing, reiterating that these duties will not be removed even in the case of trade agreements: ‘The president is determined to continue with the basic 10% tariffs, I just talked to him about that.

Regarding the possibility of reducing them to 80 per cent for some countries, Leavitt pointed out: ‘It’s a number that the president has put forward and we’ll see what happens this weekend,’ referring to the upcoming talks between Washington and Beijing in Switzerland. On the Chinese front, the spokeswoman specified that there will be no unilateral lowering: ‘The president will not lower tariffs unilaterally to China, we need to see concessions from them. And that is one of the reasons why Secretary Bessent will talk to them’.

Agreement with London: ‘Extraordinary for both of us’

In a post on Truth Social, Trump celebrated the newly reached trade deal with the UK, calling it ‘extraordinary for both countries’. Among the points highlighted was a $10 billion order placed by British Airways to purchase new Boeing aircraft, cited by the president as tangible evidence of the deal’s success.

‘We’re going to make a fortune on tariffs, only smart people understand that,’ Trump said, reiterating his strategy based on using tariffs as economic leverage.

Attack on the media and tax threats

In his online speech, Trump also attacked Msnbc journalist Stephanie Ruhle, accusing her of ‘spreading lies about tariffs’ and calling her ‘neurotic and exhausted’. The president also pointed the finger at Msnbc, calling it a ‘voice of the Democratic Party’, and called for tax sanctions against the network and its parent company, Comcast.

Phone call with Merz: ‘Trade disputes to be resolved quickly’

On the European front, Trump had a telephone conversation with the newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The two leaders agreed on the need to quickly end the trade disputes between the United States and the European Union. ‘I congratulated the president on the agreement with the UK, but I also reiterated that no agreements can be made with individual EU member states,’ Merz said.

The chancellor went on to emphasise the need not to aggravate trade tensions: ‘My impression is that Trump is aware of this’. Merz also mentioned the importance of mutual recognition of technology standards, calling it a key issue in transatlantic relations, perhaps even more relevant than the tariffs themselves. President Trump invited him to Washington to continue the dialogue.

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