UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded the alarm over the escalating trade tensions triggered by the Trump administration, cautioning that in a global trade war, “all will lose.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Guterres emphasized the interconnected nature of the global economy and the benefits of free trade. “I think we live in a global economy. Everything is interlinked,” he stated.
“One of the great advantages of free trade is that it creates conditions for all countries to benefit. When we enter into a trade war, I believe all will lose.”
His remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump, now in his second term, doubles down on protectionist trade policies, vowing to impose reciprocal tariffs on nations that levy high duties on American goods.
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The Trump administration has already implemented sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, prompting retaliatory measures from the European Union (EU) and Canada. Additional tariffs have been imposed on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, with these countries responding in kind by targeting U.S. goods with their own levies.
Trump remains defiant, asserting that these tariffs will generate massive revenue for the U.S. economy. “We are going to take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs,” he claimed. “We are going to become so rich, you won’t know where to spend all that money. Just watch—we are going to have jobs, open factories. It’s going to be great.”
Among the countries frequently criticized by Trump is India, which he has accused of imposing unfairly high tariffs on American goods. Last week, he reiterated his frustration, branding the tariff policies of India and other nations as “very unfair.”
As a response, he announced that reciprocal tariffs will take effect next month on countries that impose duties on U.S. products.
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Trump has long maintained that the U.S. has been “ripped off” by various countries for decades, vowing to put an end to what he sees as an uneven playing field.
“If you do not make your product in America, you will pay a tariff, and in some cases, a rather large one,” he declared. “Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it is our turn.”
The U.S. president specifically called out major economies such as the EU, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, and Canada, claiming they impose significantly higher tariffs on American goods than the U.S. does on theirs.
“India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%,” Trump noted. “China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them. South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher. This is happening by friend and foe alike.”
As global trade tensions continue to rise, the impact of these policies remains uncertain. While the Trump administration insists that tariffs will boost American manufacturing and economic growth, critics warn of potential economic disruptions, increased costs for consumers, and strained international relations.
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