U.S. plans to exclude sector-specific tariffs on April 2, reports say

The Trump administration is expected to exclude sector-specific tariffs from its planned reciprocal levies, which are set to be imposed on April 2, according to reports by Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous officials.

In February, President Donald Trump indicated plans to impose tariffs on specific sectors, including autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, with auto tariffs expected to be "in the neighborhood of 25%." However, after significant lobbying from the three largest U.S. automakers, who pushed for a waiver, Trump agreed to delay some auto tariffs.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that sector-specific tariffs are unlikely to be included in the April 2 announcement, citing an administration official. Despite this, the White House is still set to introduce reciprocal tariffs on that day, although the details of the planning remain subject to change.

Bloomberg News also reported on Saturday that sector-specific tariffs would be excluded, further solidifying the shift in the administration’s approach.

Despite these adjustments, the White House confirmed last week that the new reciprocal tariff rates would take effect as scheduled on April 2, following comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had previously suggested a potential delay.

The White House did not provide any additional comment outside of regular business hours. As the situation continues to develop, the administration's final decision on the scope of the tariffs will have significant implications for global trade dynamics.

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