No blanket tariffs yet, but something similar within sight

As a candidate, President Donald Trump said he would impose a blanket tariff on every U.S. trading partner. 

"I think when companies come in and dump their products in the United States, they should pay automatically, let's say a 10% tax," he said in August 2023. Trump later suggested he might raise the level to 20%.

Trump hasn't imposed blanket tariffs in his first six weeks in office, but he's imposed a flurry of other tariffs, and collectively, they are moving in that direction.

We're separately tracking his promises to add a 60% tariff on goods from China (the rate is poised to go to 20% on March 4) and to institute a reciprocal tariff policy that seeks to cancel out alleged trade barriers by trading partners (he's ordered top administration officials to come up with a plan).

Here are some of the other targeted tariffs Trump has imposed or floated as president:

A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico. Trump said this tariff was designed to hold the two countries "accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country."

After Mexico said it would add military forces to the border region and after Canada said it would take several actions, including bolstering its border-security efforts and appointing a fentanyl czar, Trump paused the implementation of tariffs on both countries for 30 days. 

The Mexican and Canadian moves were to no avail: On Feb. 27, Trump said the 25% tariffs would go into effect after all on March 4.

Increased tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump on Feb. 10 expanded existing tariffs on steel and aluminum that dated from his first term and which were extended in part by his successor, President Joe Biden. 

In addition to raising the tariff rate on aluminum from 10% to 25%, the policy ends all existing exemptions for the tariffs and expands the list of items covered. 

The changes are scheduled to take effect March 12, the White House said.

Tariffs on the European Union. Trump said at a Feb. 26 Cabinet meeting that he would be announcing "very soon" a 25% tariff on the 27 countries in the European Union

The European Union pledged to respond "firmly and immediately" to "unjustified" trade barriers if imposed.

If the tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico materialize, as Trump has promised, then the four biggest U.S. trading partners, including China, will face across-the-board tariff rates of either 20% or 25%.

And if reciprocal tariffs begin to kick in, something approaching universal tariffs would be within sight. For now, this promise is In the Works.