President Donald Trump has been clear: his big tariff day isn’t an April Fool’s joke.
For weeks, Trump has said that April 2 — a date intentionally set so as not to fall on April 1 — will be “Liberation Day” for America, during which he intends to impose new tariffs on a range of different countries.
“April 2nd is Liberation Day in America!!! For DECADES we have been ripped off and abused by every nation in the World, both friend and foe,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Now it is finally time for the Good Ol’ USA to get some of that MONEY, and RESPECT, BACK. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!”
With that date fast approaching, Trump’s administration — and Trump himself — have suggested that new tariffs on April 2 might not be as expansive as originally planned. Trump told reporters on March 23 that tariffs on autos, semiconductors, and lumber will be announced “down the road,” and while reciprocal tariffs are planned for April 2, he “may give a lot of countries a break.”
“I don’t change. But the word flexibility is an important word,” Trump said.
Here’s what we know about the tariffs Trump has planned for April 2.
Tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico
In early March, Trump paused until April 2 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico that are covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
The USMCA covers a wide range of imports from both Canada and Mexico, including agricultural products, clothing, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Trump said the tariffs on Mexican goods are intended to crack down on drug and border policy.
Canada’s Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a post on X on March 6 that Canada will delay retaliatory tariffs until April 2 “while we continue to work for the removal of all tariffs.”
Reciprocal tariffs
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on March 18 that Trump is planning to retaliate against countries that have imposed tariffs on US goods.
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“On April 2, we are going to produce a list of other country’s tariffs,” Bessent said, and the Trump administration will tell those countries why it disagrees with their tariff levels. If countries roll back their tariffs, Bessent said, “we will not put up the tariff wall.”
However, if they maintain current policy, “then we will put up the tariff wall to protect our economy, protect our workers, and protect our industries,” Bessent said.
He didn’t provide details other than saying, “for some countries, it could be quite low, for some countries, it could be quite high.”
As Trump already said, depending on how the countries respond, his administration may not enact the proposed tariffs on April 2.
Tariffs on agricultural goods
Trump wrote on Truth Social on March 3 that tariffs on “external” agricultural products will begin on April 2.
“To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States,” he said.
It’s unclear which products will be affected and if these tariffs are a part of Trump’s broader reciprocal tariffs.
Secondary tariff on goods from Venezuela
Trump said he’ll impose a “secondary tariff” on oil and gas from Venezuela in a Truth Social post on March 24, saying that Venezuela has sent “criminals” into the US.
“Any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25% to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country. All documentation will be signed and registered, and the Tariff will take place on April 2nd, 2025, LIBERATION DAY IN AMERICA,” he said.
Tariffs on cars
Trump signed an executive order on March 26 that would place a 25% tariff on all cars and car parts imported into the US. The order said that the tariff will go into effect on or after April 3 and no later than May 3.
“This will continue to spur growth like you haven’t seen before,” Trump said in the Oval Office before signing the order. “We’ll effectively be charging a 25% tariff. But if you build your car in the United States, there is no tariff.”
The order said that cars and car parts are being imported into the US “in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.”
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