US President Donald Trump declared April 2, 2025, as “Liberation Day”, calling it a pivotal moment for American industry. Speaking at the Make America Wealthy Again Event, Trump described the day as a turning point for US economic policies and announced new reciprocal tariffs on global imports.
Trump’s “Liberation Day” Announcement
In his speech, Trump proclaimed:
“My fellow Americans, this is Liberation Day, waiting for a long time. April 2nd, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to Make America Wealthy Again.”
He emphasized that decades of economic exploitation had come to an end:
“Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen anymore.”
Executive Order on Reciprocal Tariffs
Trump announced that he would sign a historic executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs on countries worldwide.
“Reciprocal: That means they do it to us, and we do it to them. This is one of the most important days, in my opinion, in American history. It is our Declaration of Economic Independence,” he stated.
The White House confirmed that these tariffs would take effect immediately.
India’s Trade Policy Under Scrutiny
Trump also mentioned India’s tariff policies, hinting at recent trade negotiations:
“I think I heard that India just a little while ago is going to be dropping its tariffs very substantially, and I said why didn’t somebody do this a long time ago.”
The statement suggests that India might be adjusting its trade policies in response to Trump’s economic measures.
Impact of the Tariff Policy
With the introduction of these tariffs, the US aims to restructure global trade relationships and strengthen domestic industries. The announcement is expected to have far-reaching consequences for international trade, including US-India relations.