Trump tariffs to begin April 5, 9: White House

President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs on US trading partners are set to begin this weekend, said White House officials Wednesday, with a higher rate on "worst offenders" to take effect next week.

Declaring that a "national emergency" stemmed from security concerns due to persistent trade deficits, the White House told reporters that a "baseline" 10 per cent tariff would start on 12.01am (0401 GMT) on April 5, while higher rates on various partners would begin from 12.01am on April 9.

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Trump's reciprocal tariffs, include 34 per cent on China and 20 per cent on the European Union, as a response to duties put on US goods. The tariffs also include 10 per cent on the UAE, 20 per cent on Jordan, and 10 per cent on Saudi Arabia.

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Trading partners are expected to respond with countermeasures of their own that could lead to dramatically higher prices.

Earlier, Trump imposed 20 per cent duties on all imports from China and 25 per cent duties on steel and aluminum and extended them to nearly $150 billion worth of downstream products.

His advisers say the tariffs will return strategically vital manufacturing capabilities to the United States.