Trump to limit exceptions on US tariffs after April 2 deadline

President Donald Trump stated that the United States will make exceptions to its newly imposed customs tariffs, but emphasized that these exceptions would be few and far between.

Speaking in an interview with Greg Kelly Reports on Newsmax, Trump made clear that when the tariff relief for Canada and Mexico expires on April 2, there would not be "too many exceptions" granted, Caliber.Az reports.

Trump’s comments come after the U.S. administration imposed a 25% tariff on nearly all imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as increasing tariffs on Chinese goods from 10% to 20%. The tariffs were announced in March 2025, with a delay granted for Canada and Mexico until April 2 under a trilateral trade agreement. Following that date, Trump affirmed that the U.S. would no longer provide exemptions to these tariffs.

“No, I don’t want to have too many exceptions,” Trump said during the interview in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. “Look, we’ve been ripped off for 45 years by other countries. We were just soft and weak. It’s almost like we had people that didn’t know what they were doing.”

Trump stressed that the decision was part of a broader effort to combat unfair trade practices and reduce the U.S. debt, which now stands at $36 trillion. "It's time that we get some of that money back," he said. "This had to be done. We couldn’t let this continue."

The President also pointed to what he described as the exploitation of the U.S. by both allies and adversaries, specifically naming the European Union and China. He claimed that these entities have "taken it to the cleaners" when it comes to trade with the U.S., suggesting that even so-called "friends" have been worse than "foes."

The U.S. trade measures are part of Trump's broader strategy to address what he sees as unfair tariffs imposed on U.S. goods by countries like China, Mexico, Canada, and members of the European Union. Trump reiterated that, on average, these countries charge significantly higher tariffs on U.S. imports than the U.S. imposes on their products.

The looming tariff deadline of April 2 has sparked concern among industries reliant on imports, but the administration remains resolute that the tariffs will serve to rebalance trade relationships and help the U.S. economy.

In response to the new tariffs, discussions about potential retaliatory measures from countries like China, Mexico, and the European Union continue to evolve, with many calling for negotiations before additional trade barriers are imposed.

By Vugar Khalilov