Washington, 5 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) — US President Donald Trump's new sweeping global tariffs came into effect Saturday.

The US government introduced universal tariffs of a minimum of 10% on imports from all countries.

Significantly higher punitive tariffs will apply for some, depending on trade deficits. Imports from Germany and other European Union countries to the United States face new tariffs of 20% starting Wednesday.

This is the most aggressive step yet in Trump's already combative trade policy. Economists have said that US consumers will experience significant price increases, but consumers in Europe and other parts of the world will also feel the pinch.

Trump had praised his announcement of the tariffs on Wednesday as "Liberation Day," promising that the tariffs would bring back the "golden age" of the US.

However, following his announcement, stocks plummeted.

China slapped a 34% countertariff on US imports on Friday and the European Union said it would retaliate, but other countries, like India, have taken a wait-and-see approach.