Some countries impose higher tariffs on U.S. goods compared to the tariffs the U.S. imposes on their products. This can hurt U.S. exporters because they face higher costs to access foreign markets. For example, China has historically imposed higher tariffs on some U.S. goods compared to the U.S. tariff rates on Chinese products.

Trump’s administration claimed that many countries, especially China, were engaging in unfair trade practices, such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, and currency manipulation. The tariffs were seen as a tool to pressure China and other trading partners to address these issues and adhere to international trade rules.