The 'reciprocal tariffs' chart wasn't showing foreign tariff rates
WHEN & WHERE WAS IT SAID?
When: Apr 2, 2025
Where: Rose Garden, White House
Original context / reporting ↗The chart showed the tariffs other countries charge the United States
WHAT HE SAID (WORD FOR WORD, SADLY)
He unveiled a chart of 'reciprocal' tariffs, headed "Tariffs Charged to the U.S.A.," and said it showed what other countries charge the United States.
WHEN AND WHERE (THE RECEIPTS HAVE A CALENDAR)
Rose Garden, April 2, 2025, in the announcement of the 'reciprocal' tariffs.
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS (BRING SNACKS)
- According to the U.S. Trade Representative, each rate was calculated by dividing a country's goods trade deficit with the U.S. by U.S. goods imports from it; the 'discounted' U.S. rate is half that.
- For the EU, the chart lists 39% (about $235.6 billion divided by $605.8 billion in 2024). The World Trade Organization puts the EU's trade-weighted average tariff at 2.7%.
- Countries with which the U.S. runs a surplus, such as the U.K. and Singapore, still got a 10% rate.
- Economists said the formula ignores services trade and non-tariff factors, so it does not measure trade barriers.
WHY THIS MATTERS
A trade deficit is not a tariff. Calling one by the other's name is a labelling problem, not a policy.
The displayed figures were based on trade deficits, not actual foreign tariff rates.
Finding: FalseBold. Wrong, but bold.
Sources & further reading
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Editorial note: each article reports only details found in the linked sources. Where a source does not give a venue, date or exact wording, we say so instead of guessing. Quotations may need further editorial verification against primary recordings or transcripts.