WP: White House gears up for escalated trade war with new tariff regime Worth trillions

White House aides are preparing to impose new tariffs on most imports starting April 2, setting the stage for an escalation in global economic tensions that President Donald Trump has called “Liberation Day.”

Over the first two months of his presidency, Trump has raised tariffs on approximately $800 billion in imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, although estimates vary. These tariffs have caused significant turbulence in the stock market and heightened the risk of a US recession, while also prompting retaliatory measures from trade partners against US industries.

Despite the backlash, senior advisers to Trump are now publicly committing to establish a new tariff regime that would impose additional duties on trade with most countries engaged in commerce with the US.

A source familiar with the administration’s internal planning, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Washington Post, confirmed that officials are preparing tariffs on “trillions” of dollars in imports, per Caliber.Az.

The possibility of more than doubling the scope of Trump’s tariffs has raised alarms among economists and some congressional Republicans, while other White House allies are concerned about the logistical challenges involved in implementing such a complex import tax system.

The specifics of the new duties have sparked extensive discussions within the administration, with Vice President JD Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House aide Peter Navarro, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent all involved in the talks, the source added.

“The last two months have already hurt American businesses and consumers, but the April 2 deadline seriously could make all of that look like a tempest in a teapot,” said Joseph Politano, an economic policy analyst at Apricitas Economics. “We don’t know exactly what they’re going to do, but from what they’re saying, it sounds functionally like new tariffs on all US imports.”

These internal preparations suggest that Trump remains undeterred in his efforts to disrupt the global trade order, despite growing concerns among Capitol Hill allies, Wall Street, and strong opposition from foreign nations. Trump has insisted that the tariffs are necessary to encourage companies to bring production back to the US and to force foreign trading partners to make concessions. However, the repercussions have unsettled investors and consumers, leading to declines in several key economic indicators.

“It’s a liberation day for our country because we’re going to be getting back a lot of the wealth that we so foolishly gave up to other countries, including friend and foe,” Trump told reporters on March 17.

By Tamilla Hasanova