Trump says to slap 10 pct tariffs on smaller countries

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he planned to place over 10 percent tariffs on smaller countries, not least those in Africa and the Caribbean.

"We'll probably set one tariff for all of them," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. It could be "a little over 10 percent tariff" on goods from at least 100 nations, he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.

Trump had just announced a deal with Indonesia earlier in the day. Under the deal, Indonesia will pay a 19 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States, while U.S. exports to Indonesia are to be free of tariff- and non-tariff barriers.

The president had recently sent letters to leaders of several countries, including some major trading partners of the United States, announcing tariffs of 20-50 percent to be introduced starting Aug. 1.

Trump also said he would "probably" announce tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs at the "end of the month.