US President Donald Trump, has plans to impose import tariffs on what he described as “smaller nations” including countries in the Caribbean and Africa.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he suggested a flat rate of “a little over ten percent” for goods from at least 100 countries.
“We’ll probably set one tariff for all of them,” Trump said.
The tariffs are expected to take effect from August 1.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who also spoke to reporters, supported the move, saying the President plans to handle small nations in the way he believes is most effective.
He clarified the targeted countries would largely be in the Caribbean and Africa.
“The Caribbean countries, African countries. There are a lot of them,” Lutnick said.
Since taking office for his second term in January 2025, Trump has embarked on an aggressive tariff regime that the White House said is for addressing trade imbalances and “to level the playing field for American businesses and workers by confronting the unfair tariff disparities and non-tariff barriers imposed by other countries.”
“President Trump refuses to let the United States be taken advantage of and believes that tariffs are necessary to ensure fair trade, protect American workers, and reduce the trade deficit—this is an emergency,” a “fact sheet” published by the White House said in explaining the rationale behind the tariffs.
The US President himself has said that “tariff” is his favorite word.
“To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff, and it’s my favorite word,” he said in 2024.
Soon after his inauguration, he announced a 25 per cent tariff on Canada and Mexico, which he said were taking advantage of the US.
“I look at some of these agreements,” he remarked. “And I’d say ‘Who would ever sign a thing like this?’”
Since Trump announced his sweeping tariffs after taking office, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has asked the United States to reconsider and exempt developing countries from them.
“This is why we have argued that least developed countries as a group, and Africa as a region, should be exempted from these reciprocal tariffs, so we can better integrate them into the world trading system, not further exclude them, so that they can stand a better chance to earn the resources with which to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals,” WTO’s Director General, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, said while addressing the opening plenary session at the 4th Finance for Development Conference in Seville in June 2025.
What tariffs? China has been covering us, only a miniscule few will be concerned.
TACO
Bill Clinton was impeached for far far less.
Dominica and other Caribbean countries should put a $2000.00 entry fee on all American tourists visiting the islands they want to blame someone they can blame their orange chosen one sent down by God who they put back into the White House even though he is s 34 count convicted felon.
Not a good idea. The tourism bratty will be devastated to the detriment the economies of the countries of the region.
so when the Americans decide they not coming to Dominica and the other Caribbean countries because they don’t want to pay $2000 just to enter a country who you think will suffer, the Americans that traveling to spend money or the countries that trying to sell to travelers?
Trump is not going after anybody in Dominica or tariffs and Dominica. We do not ship enough products from Dominica to be penalized with tariffs. Now you may hate Trump and that’s your problem but the US economy is doing pretty good and I’m very happy with the gas prices and the as far as food is concerned. The only thing we’re waiting for is cost of HOMES to come back down. You can’t blame Trump for asking for fairness. Blame the system. It’s not fair for us to be paying all this money to send a products overseas and we charge a tiny fraction on their products coming to the US. Get your fax right again Trump is not coming after Dominica. When I was in Dominica in March, people were saying Trump was preventing us from going back to the US. That was a lie and It’s still a lie. Cut that crap out move on and stop the hate.
Boss? This man has separated families, supported genocide in the Middle East, destroyed the American Economy, obliterated the stock market so that his billionaire friends can profit, increased the cost of living for the average American; and you think he has done good? Get serious
All of the tariff “profits” will be deposited in the Bank of Mar a Largo ICO yours truly the felon.
I find “nous sharpe” considering how little our tourism dependent economy moves the global needle.
It’s not like we are sitting on oil like Guyana, Grenada or on natural gas like Trinidad and Tobago who will all have sacrifice a some pounds / dollars of flesh to the deal maker’s tariff fund. We just have to take the hit and move on.
China busy trying to handle their own tariff problems.
I find “nous sharpe” considering how little our tourism dependent economy moves the global needle.
It’s not like we are sitting on oil like Guyana, Grenada or on natural gas like Trinidad and Tobago who will all have sacrifice a some pounds / dollars of flesh to the deal maker’s tariff fund. We just have to take the hit and move on. China busy trying to handle their own tariff problems.
I raged against the election of Donald Trump just before the 2024 presidential campaign. I was nailed to across and crucified mercilessly.
No surprise that this megalomaniac is causing global havoc. He has completely lost his humanity. His administration has decided to burn 500 tons of food stored for starving children around the world. That gives us a clear picture inside his soul.
Caribbean (mis) should use the tremendous brain power of their people, find creative ways to increase productivity in all sectors of the economy, and boost trade within the region with each other.
The US as a reliable partner that ship has already sailed.
Dominica and other Caribbean countries should put a $2000.00 entry fee on all American tourists visiting the islands they want to blame someone they can blame their orange chosen one sent down by God who they put back into the White House even though he is s 34 count convicted felon.
EH EH!!! What will that “cut off nose to spite face” suggestion accomplish??? Americans will just take their greenbacks to some other tourist destination.
Already flourishing regional destinations like Barbados will gladly welcome that move with a huge “thank you very much” just like they did when Ross U. “fell into their lap”.
That’s why so many people are cynical of politicians. This is a two faced egotistical liar and racist of course, who campaigned on a platform of peace. He vilified Biden for America’s war in Ukraine and in the middle east. But less than six months into office, he and Satanyahu from Israel, together plotted the assassination of top Iranian scientists and leaders including their chief peace negotiator.
This venemous gangster parading as a leader will squeeze the hell out of all countries until he is stopped.
MEME
Donald Trump is the incarnation of Satan. He is the perfect definition of evil.
Trump is: brutality violence villainy sin darkness iniquity satanism harm danger indecency mischief hostility destruction……….
He is already orange all he needs is a set of horns he looks just like the devil the man is evil. He does not care about anyone but himself everything about him is money and how much he can make for himself by causing misery on people. He is going to put a golden statue of himself in front of the White House so people can adore him and cry in admiration while passing by like is done in North Korea members of the US Congress will be clapping when he does that.