President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his commitment to implementing reciprocal tariffs but acknowledged the possibility of “flexibility” within the policy. This stance comes amid increasing requests for exceptions from various industries and international partners.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “People are coming to me and talking about tariffs, and a lot of people are asking me if they could have exceptions. And once you do that for one, you have to do that for all.” His statement suggests a reluctance to grant widespread exemptions, reinforcing his administration’s broader protectionist trade agenda.

Trump, a long-time advocate for tariffs as a tool to balance trade, denied that he had shifted his approach, even after granting top automakers a one-month exemption on previous import duties in early March. “I don’t change. But the word flexibility is an important word,” he clarified. “Sometimes it’s flexibility. So there’ll be flexibility, but basically it’s reciprocal.”

April 2 has been labeled by Trump as America’s “liberation day,” marking the official start of the reciprocal tariff strategy. Under this plan, the U.S. will impose tariffs on countries that levy duties on American goods. The policy could also target nations with non-tariff trade barriers, such as value-added taxes, which the Trump administration views as disadvantaging U.S. exports.

Trump further indicated his intention to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding trade disputes. In response to Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing has already imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Since returning to office, Trump has aggressively pursued tariff policies, generating uncertainty among investors and raising fears of a potential global trade war. As businesses and international leaders watch closely, the coming weeks will determine how flexible the administration will truly be in enforcing its latest round of tariffs.