U.S. President Donald Trump will unveil sweeping new tariffs today on what he calls "Liberation Day" in the United States, but until the last minute he has kept the world in the dark about the scope of his policies that could spark a global trade war.

Trump will unveil the measures, surrounded by cabinet members, in the White House Rose Garden at 8 p.m. local time. He promised that the tariffs would stop the "looting" of America and ensure a new "golden age" for American industry.

The White House acknowledged that it was still fleshing out the details of the decision, which is less than 24 hours away.
The billionaire Republican has long been enamored of tariffs, insisting to economic experts that they are a panacea that will address America's trade imbalance with friends and foes alike.

Critics argue that not only will U.S. consumers bear the brunt, but that they could increase the risk of recession at home and abroad.
Global markets have been nervous for several days ahead of Trump's upcoming announcement, and the countries most likely to be targeted have called for negotiations as they prepare retaliatory measures.
The move also underscores the growing and deep rift between Trump's America and many of its closest allies, not just on trade but on security, defense and just about everything else.

In typically unpredictable fashion, the 78-year-old US president is keeping the details under wraps.
In his latest comments on tariffs, he said only that he would be "very kind" (to other countries) but did not give many details.
As the deadline approached, US media reported that Trump was also considering general 20 per cent tariffs - and then that he was looking at a third option where some countries would get preferential treatment. | BGNES, AFP