U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Americans to "be patient" as a new round of sweeping 10% tariffs took effect on Saturday, targeting a wide range of imported goods in what he called an “economic revolution.” The move marks a significant departure from the decades-old global trade order and has sparked concern over rising prices and international backlash.
“This is an economic revolution and we will win,” Trump wrote in all caps on his Truth Social platform.
While calling the new measures historic, he also acknowledged the challenges ahead: “Be patient… it will not be easy.”
The newly implemented tariffs apply to the vast majority of goods imported into the United States from abroad, excluding certain strategic commodities. Exemptions include oil, natural gas, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, lumber, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and rare minerals not found on U.S. soil.
Goods already covered by previous “national security” tariffs such as steel, aluminum, vehicles, and auto parts, which have faced 25% duties since Trump’s earlier trade crackdowns — are also excluded from this round.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection began collecting the 10% base tariff at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday at ports, airports, and bonded warehouses across the country. It represents the first phase of Trump's broader effort to dismantle the system of mutually agreed tariffs that has governed international trade since the end of World War II.
The new tariffs affect imports from dozens of nations, including close allies such as the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as countries like Colombia, Argentina, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
A second wave of tariff hikes targeting imports from 57 major trading partners is expected to roll out next week.
The administration argues that the tariffs are designed to protect American industries, reduce reliance on foreign goods, and rebalance trade deficits. Critics, however, warn that the move could trigger retaliation, strain global supply chains, and lead to higher consumer prices.
Economists have also raised concerns about the potential inflationary impact, particularly if U.S. companies pass on the added costs to consumers. Despite those risks, Trump maintained that the end result of his trade overhaul will be “historic.”
