Day of Liberation»: Donald Trump Announces Reciprocal Tariffs on Countries Worldwide
Under the concept of «Day of Liberation,» on April 2, President Donald Trump announced the details of tariffs on imports from various trade partners, a measure that has evolved over time since he took office.
According to the international news network CNN, the implementation of these tariffs has four main objectives: to restrict the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration into the U.S, to ensure fair trade conditions with its partners, to increase public revenues, and to boost domestic manufacturing.
“We have been waiting for this for a long time. April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn. The day America’s destiny was reclaimed, and the day we started making America richer again”, said Trump.
The president explained that for decades, the nation has been robbed and exploited by both neighboring and distant countries. Therefore, he will sign an Executive Order instituting reciprocal tariffs.
“I will sign a historic Executive Order instituting reciprocal tariffs on countries all around the world… Reciprocal, that means they do it to us, and we do it to them. Very simple”.
“With today’s action, we will finally be able to make America great again, and greater than ever. Jobs and factories will come back to our country. We will return to America’s Golden Age”.
The tariffs that have generated the most anticipation are those that will impact agricultural trade, given that many countries are important suppliers to the U.S. market, such as Mexico and Canada.
In particular, the U.S. heavily depends on Mexico for supplies of tomatoes, avocados, peppers, and various fruits and vegetables. Additionally, significant imports of beef, pork, and canola oil come from Canada.
Both neighboring countries now face a 25% tariff, which could lead to price increases.
Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has been actively working to resolve differences through dialogue. Along with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, they have agreed on the importance of maintaining communication with the U.S., integrating the three economies, and strengthening the U.S – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“With today’s actions, we are also standing up for our great farmers who have been brutalized by nations all around the world”, Trump said.
“It’s not fair to our country, and with countries like Canada, we subsidize many nations and keep them in business. In the case of Mexico, it is 300 billion dollars a year. In the case of Canada, it is nearly 200 billion dollars a year”.
Trump detailed some of the base tariffs for certain countries, such as 20% for the European Union, 34% for China, 24% for Japan, and 26% for India. The list also included South Africa and Brazil, but regardless of the origin, the minimum tariff will be 10%, and it will take effect at midnight tonight.
It’s worth noting that countries such as Mexico, Canada, and Russia are not included on the list.
«Countries affected by the reciprocal tariffs announced by Donald Trump»
While the U.S is not at risk of food shortages, certain staple items in the American diet could experience significant price pressures. As a result, the U.S. food prices may become more susceptible to seasonal fluctuations as reliance on foreign products decreases.
On Tuesday, April 1, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that whatever Trump announces regarding tariffs will be “effective immediately”.
Reactions and Scenarios Leading Up to Trump’s Announcement
Canada
The two countries are key trade partners. In 2023, Canada imported just over $5 billion in fresh products from the U.S, which represents nearly half of all fresh product imports.
Meanwhile, Canadian businesses exported just over $4 billion in fresh products to the U.S, which accounts for over 95% of all fresh product exports.
Europe
Hours before Trump’s announcements, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the European Union is fully prepared to respond to the tariffs.
«It must be clear: Europe did not initiate this confrontation. We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but we have a solid plan to do so if necessary”, she stated.
«European citizens need to know this: together, we will always promote and defend our interests and values, and we will always stand up for Europe”, she added, appealing to “unity” in response to Trump’s actions.
The list of involved products and services will be made known once the tariffs are enacted.
Asia
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, the Asian giant, Japan, and South Korea will respond jointly to the impending tariffs.
It was reported that the three countries held economic talks on Sunday, March 30, for the first time in five years, promising to boost fair trade and strengthen economic ties, just days before the U.S announces sweeping tariffs on all trade partners.
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単語・熟語 発音記号 意味
Day of Liberation /deɪ əv ˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/ 解放の日（政策名）
announce /əˈnaʊns/ 発表する
reciprocal tariff /rɪˈsɪprəkəl ˈtærɪf/ 相互関税
tariff /ˈtærɪf/ 関税
import /ˈɪmpɔːrt/ 輸入
trade partner /treɪd ˈpɑːrtnər/ 貿易相手国
evolve /ɪˈvɑːlv/ 進化する、変化する
take office /teɪk ˈɒfɪs/ 就任する
implementation /ˌɪmplɪmenˈteɪʃən/ 実施
restrict /rɪˈstrɪkt/ 制限する
flow /floʊ/ 流入
illegal immigration /ɪˈliːɡəl ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən/ 不法移民
ensure /ɪnˈʃʊr/ 確保する
fair trade /fer treɪd/ 公正貿易
public revenue /ˈpʌblɪk ˈrevənuː/ 公的歳入
boost /buːst/ 促進する
domestic manufacturing /dəˈmestɪk ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ/ 国内製造業
destiny /ˈdestəni/ 運命
reclaim /rɪˈkleɪm/ 取り戻す
exploit /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ 搾取する
Executive Order /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv ˈɔːrdər/ 大統領令
institute /ˈɪnstɪtuːt/ 導入する
anticipation /ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/ 期待、注目
agricultural trade /ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl treɪd/ 農産物貿易
supplier /səˈplaɪər/ 供給国
heavily depend on /ˈhevɪli dɪˈpend ɒn/ 大きく依存する
tariff hike /ˈtærɪf haɪk/ 関税引き上げ
price increase /praɪs ˈɪŋkriːs/ 価格上昇
resolve differences /rɪˈzɑːlv ˈdɪfrənsɪz/ 相違を解決する
dialogue /ˈdaɪəˌlɔːɡ/ 対話
subsidy /ˈsʌbsɪdi/ 補助金
take effect /teɪk ɪˈfekt/ 発効する
staple item /ˈsteɪpəl ˈaɪtəm/ 主食・必需品
be susceptible to /səˈseptəbəl tuː/ 影響を受けやすい
retaliate /rɪˈtælieɪt/ 報復する
enact /ɪˈnækt/ 制定する
sweeping /ˈswiːpɪŋ/ 大規模な
② 全文の日本語訳
「『解放の日』：ドナルド・トランプ氏、世界各国への相互関税を発表」
「解放の日」という構想のもと、4月2日、ドナルド・トランプ大統領は、さまざまな貿易相手国からの輸入品に対する関税の詳細を発表した。この措置は、同氏が就任して以降、時間をかけて発展してきたものである。
国際ニュースネットワークCNNによると、これらの関税の実施には4つの主な目的がある。不法移民やフェンタニルの米国への流入を制限すること、公正な貿易条件を確保すること、公的歳入を増やすこと、そして国内製造業を活性化させることである。
トランプ氏は「私たちは長い間これを待っていた。2025年4月2日は、米国産業が再生した日として永遠に記憶されるだろう。アメリカの運命が取り戻され、再び豊かさを取り戻し始めた日だ」と述べた。
大統領は、数十年にわたり米国は近隣国および遠隔地の国々から略奪され、搾取されてきたと説明し、相互関税を導入する大統領令に署名すると表明した。
農産物貿易に影響を与える関税は特に注目されており、メキシコやカナダなど多くの国が米国市場の重要な供給国である。両国は現在25％の関税に直面しており、価格上昇につながる可能性がある。
一方、欧州やアジア諸国も対抗措置を示唆しており、中国、日本、韓国は共同で対応する姿勢を示している。
-語彙クイズ（10問）
Q1. reciprocal tariff の意味は？
Q2. take office は何を意味する？
Q3. restrict the flow の意味として正しいものは？
a) 促進する b) 制限する c) 無視する
Q4. boost domestic manufacturing とは何をすること？
Q5. Executive Order は何か？
Q6. heavily depend on の意味は？
Q7. price increase が起こる原因として本文で挙げられているのは？
Q8. resolve differences through dialogue の意味は？
Q9. take effect at midnight はいつ発効する？
Q10. retaliate に最も近い意味は？
-TOEIC形式問題（5問）
Q1.
The president announced details of tariffs on imports from various trade ______.
a) rivals
b) partners
c) unions
d) zones
Q2.
The tariffs aim to ______ public revenues and boost domestic manufacturing.
a) reduce
b) ignore
c) increase
d) replace
Q3.
Mexico and Canada now face a 25% tariff, which could lead to price ______.
a) stability
b) cuts
c) increases
d) freezes
Q4.
The minimum tariff will take effect at ______ tonight.
a) dawn
b) noon
c) sunset
d) midnight
Q5.
European leaders said they are prepared to respond if the tariffs are ______.
a) delayed
b) canceled
c) enacted
d) ignored
-読解問題（英語・3問）
Q1. What are the four main objectives of the tariffs according to CNN?
Q2. Why are agricultural tariffs expected to have a strong impact?
Q3. How are Europe and Asia responding to Trump’s tariff announcement?
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