On February 13, 2025, the Trump Administration published a memorandum and fact sheet directing several U.S. agencies to explore the implementation of new reciprocal tariffs.
The memorandum directs the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing to take all necessary actions to investigate the harm to the United States from any existing non-reciprocal trade arrangements. The agencies must then submit a report to the President detailing proposed remedies in pursuit of reciprocal trade relations with each trading partner.
According to the memorandum, it is the policy of the United States to reduce large and persistent trade deficits and to address other unfair and unbalanced aspects of trade with foreign partners. In pursuit of this policy, President Trump stated in the memo that he is introducing the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” that will work to counter non-reciprocal aspects of trading arrangements including tariffs, taxes, and any other impediments to fair competition with the market economy of the United States.
The fact sheet outlines several examples where trading partners do not give the United States reciprocal treatment and states that reciprocal tariffs will “bring back fairness and prosperity to the distorted international trade system.”
Diaz Trade Law will continue to monitor for developments.
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