Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Mar 5: US President Donald Trump, in his first address to a joint session of Congress, announced that reciprocal tariffs would take effect on April 2. The move aims to level the playing field in trade by matching the tariffs imposed by countries like the European Union, China, Brazil, India, and South Korea.

"Whatever they tax us, we tax them," Trump declared, emphasizing his administration's tough stance on trade policy. He criticized these countries for imposing significantly higher tariffs on US products, calling the current system "very unfair."

Trump highlighted specific disparities, noting, "India charges us 100 per cent tariffs, China's average tariff on our products is double what we charge them, and South Korea's tariffs are four times higher." He vowed to impose both monetary and non-monetary barriers if other nations continued to block US products.

He also raised concerns about the quality of imported goods, claiming that many were "uninspected" and could harm American farmers.

Turning to domestic issues, Trump lambasted the previous Democratic administration for what he described as an "economic catastrophe" and an "inflation nightmare." He pledged to reverse the damage and "make America affordable again."

In a push for tax relief, Trump proposed making interest payments on car loans tax-deductible, but only for American-made vehicles. He also promised no taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors and reiterated his commitment to lowering energy costs by reopening power plants shut down by the Biden administration.

The president's remarks drew sharp reactions from Democrats, who interrupted with shouts of "Not true!" and "Those are lies!"

Undeterred, Trump touted his administration's accomplishments in just 43 days, claiming more progress than most administrations achieve in years. "The American Dream is surging—bigger and better than ever before," he said, vowing to continue his agenda to reshape the government and end the Ukraine war.

With chants of "USA, USA!" from Republican lawmakers, Trump concluded his speech by promising a historic comeback for the nation.