On Thursday afternoon, February 13, President Trump announced plans to begin a thorough investigation to assess “the equivalent of a reciprocal tariff with respect to each foreign trading partner” in response to countries that have existing tariffs on U.S. goods.
The investigation will not start until at least April 1, the deadline for several reports on various trade-related matters, and no specific timeline has been set for its completion.
According to a presidential memorandum released yesterday, the investigation will examine the following:
Tariffs imposed on U.S. products.
Unfair, discriminatory, or extraterritorial taxes imposed by trading partners on U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers, including a value-added tax.
Costs to U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers arising from non-tariff barriers or measures; unfair or harmful acts, policies, or practices, including subsidies; and burdensome regulatory requirements on U.S. businesses operating in other countries.
Policies and practices that cause exchange rates to deviate from their market value to the detriment of Americans.
Wage suppression.
Other mercantilist policies that make U.S. businesses and workers less competitive.
Any other practice deemed to impose any unfair limitation on market access or any structural impediment to fair competition with the market economy of the U.S.
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