WASHINGTON, March 5 (Bernama-dpa) -- US President Donald Trump defended the introduction of far-reaching tariffs against long-standing economic partners such as Canada and Mexico in his first address to both chambers of the US parliament since returning to office in January, reported German news agency dpa.
The Republican president said the tariffs were intended to make "America rich again". He conceded "there could be a little disturbance" and "there could be an adjustment period".
Trump repeated his announcement that new far-reaching tariffs would be imposed on April 2.
"We've been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on earth, and we will not let that happen anymore," he said.
Tariffs of 25 per cent on goods from Mexico and Canada came into force on Tuesday. Trump had also announced that he would double the import tariffs on goods from China, which were imposed in February, to 20 per cent.
China, Mexico and Canada all responded to the new US tariffs by imposing retaliatory measures on imports from the US.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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