On April 2, Eastern Time, the United States announced that it would impose "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners. The US's actions immediately attracted global condemnation, and many US trading partners expressed strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition, saying that they would take measures to counter them.

  Political experts and scholars from many countries said that the US's approach deviates from the rules-based global trade system, ignores the balance of interests reached by multilateral trade negotiations over the years, and ignores the fact that the US has made a lot of profits from international trade for a long time. It seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of multiple parties, including American consumers, and is a unilateral bullying practice that hurts others and oneself.

  Rules undermine the rules are no different from the economic "weapons of mass destruction"

  The so-called "reciprocal tariffs" in the United States mean that the tariff level imposed on imported goods is equivalent to the tariff rate imposed on US goods by trading partners. This so-called "fairness" proposition is deceptive and confusing, and is essentially contrary to the WTO's most-favored-nation treatment principle, and its differentiated tax rates violate the promise of non-discrimination between WTO members.

  As soon as the US government's "reciprocal tariff" policy was released, it immediately attracted strong criticism and dissatisfaction among many US allies and trading partners. They believe that the US move is a serious damage to international trade rules, not only does not help solve its own problems, but will instead drag down global economic growth.

  Chilean President Borici said on the 2nd that the US government's unilateral act put aside all principles, including the WTO framework, and is embracing the concept of "power is justice."

  Australian Prime Minister Albanys criticized the US tariff policy on the 3rd for having no logical basis and violated the foundation of the partnership between Australia and the United States, bluntly saying that "this is not a friend's behavior."

  Colombian President Petro said the U.S. government believes that widespread tariffs can increase its own production, wealth and employment, which could be a "huge mistake."

  Slovak Prime Minister Fitz said that the US "reciprocal tariffs" will seriously impact pillar industries such as Slovakia's automobile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, and all EU member states will be burdened by US tariffs.

  European Central Bank President Lagarde warned on the 2nd that "reciprocal tariffs" will have a negative impact on the global economy and will also have an impact on the European economy. The EU is reducing its dependence on the United States in many areas.

  Hildegard Muller, chairman of the German Automobile Industry Association, issued a statement on the 3rd, criticizing the US's "reciprocal tariff" policy for completely deviating from the rules-based global trade system and also deviating from the basis of global value creation and economic growth.

  The Israeli Manufacturers Association criticized the US's "reciprocal tariff" policy in a statement on the 3rd as a "regression in trade and investment relations between the two countries." The statement said the move could damage Israel's economic stability, hinder foreign investment in the Israeli economy, and weaken Israeli companies' competitiveness in the US market.

  Busani Engcaveni, a senior researcher at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, said that the US tariff policy cannot solve problems such as excessive economic financialization and intensified social inequality, and destroying global value chains is tantamount to the economic "weapons of mass destruction."

  China's Ministry of Commerce said that the US announced the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners, and China firmly opposes this and will firmly take countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests. History has proved that raising tariffs cannot solve the United States' own problems, which not only harms the United States' own interests, but also endangers global economic development and stability of production and supply chains. There is no winner in the trade war, and there is no way out for protectionism. China urges the US to immediately cancel unilateral tariff measures and properly resolve differences through equal dialogue with its trading partners.

  Hurting others and yourself "will not make America great again"

  After the signing of the executive order for "reciprocal tariffs", the US New York stock market suffered a plunge. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index fell 3.98%, 4.84% and 5.97% respectively on the 3rd, both of which set the largest single-day declines in recent years.

  Analysts pointed out that "reciprocal tariffs" will cause multiple backlash on the US economy, industries and people's interests, which will not only reduce corporate innovation and weaken their international competitiveness, but also American consumers will be the first to pay for their negative impact.

  Lan Jin, honorary chairman of the Oregon China Council, told Xinhua News Agency reporters that "reciprocal tariffs" are a major misjudgment of US trade policy. They will not only have a huge impact on Oregon employment, but also the state's wheat-growing areas will suffer greatly. In addition, the increase in import costs caused by the imposition of tariffs will also push up the prices of imported goods in the United States, increase inflation, and affect consumer purchasing power.

  Gary Hefbauer, a senior researcher at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a former Treasury official, told Xinhua News Agency reporters that "reciprocal tariffs" will increase U.S. inflation by 1.5 percentage points. He said that the "reciprocal tariff" approach is extremely effective, and it will be difficult for the United States to avoid an economic recession after implementation, and global economic growth will slow by at least 1 percentage point.

  Clay Ramsey, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, said the United States intends to take advantage of negotiations with "reciprocal tariffs" and force other trading partners to make concessions. This approach will put the majority of American society at a "huge cost".

  Luka Burkic, a professor at Libertas International University in Croatia, said that the US's "reciprocal tariff" policy will significantly increase the cost and prices of goods exported to the United States, and exacerbate inflation. The middle class and blue-collar class in the United States will be greatly affected, and the "tariff war" of the US government will not make the United States great again.

  The latest survey data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Enterprises shows that many small and medium-sized Canadian companies are reducing investment in the United States, turning to local suppliers and markets, and promoting "Made in Canada" to reduce operating risks. Data shows that 33% of Canadian companies surveyed intend to reduce their investment in the United States in the next six months.

  "Taking all necessary measures" the US may attract counter-attack from all parties

  Faced with the escalating protectionist measures in the United States, many governments responded immediately and formulated countermeasures. Several U.S. trading partners have said they will take measures to counter it.

  European Commission President von der Leyen said in a statement on the 3rd that the US "reciprocal tariff" policy runs contrary to the goals the US wants to achieve, and will cause a "heavy blow" to the global economy, harm the interests of global consumers and trigger a further rise in protectionism, and the EU will take countermeasures.

  Canadian Prime Minister Carney said on the 2nd that Canada will take countermeasures to deal with the US "reciprocal tariff" policy.

  The Brazilian parliament passed an economic reciprocity bill on the 2nd, authorizing the government to take measures to deal with US trade barriers. Brazil's foreign ministry issued a statement saying that Brazil will assess all possible actions to ensure "equality" in bilateral trade, including access to the WTO.

  Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Lin Fangzheng said on the 3rd that Japan will use the government's strength to take all necessary measures to deal with "reciprocal tariffs." Japanese Minister of Economic and Industry, Ryoji Muto said that the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Economics will set up a countermeasures headquarters from now on, and on the basis of grasping the impact of "reciprocal tariffs" on Japan's domestic industries, it will cooperate with relevant departments to take all necessary measures.

  South Korean Acting President and Prime Minister Han De-soo urgently convened a meeting of the Economic Security Strategy Task Force on the 3rd to discuss measures to deal with the United States' "reciprocal tariffs". He said: "The global 'tariff war' is imminent and the situation is extremely serious. The South Korean government will do its best to break through the trade dilemma."

  Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Lucas Frcek said on the 2nd that there is a huge trade exchange between the EU and the United States, and the trade war will not benefit either side. "At the EU level, we have prepared a package of the first countermeasures, with a total amount of more than 20 billion euros."

  German Chancellor Scholz previously criticized the U.S. for imposing tariffs to undermine global free trade and stressed that the EU will continue to respond decisively. He said that the continuous imposition of tariffs on the US will aggravate global uncertainty and deepen world economic division.

  A survey released by the British Yuguan Survey Company on the 1st showed that more than 60% of the people in Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Italy support countermeasures against imported products from the United States. Danish respondents had the highest approval rating, at 79%.

[Editor in charge: Feng Li]