India, April 3 -- Triggering almost a global trade war, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced tariffs of at least 10 percent on almost all goods from other countries, plus even higher rates for many nations, including friends, but deemed to be "worst offenders".

Addressing an audience in the Rose Gardens of the White House, including rows of construction helmet-wearing workers, Donald Trump said: "The tariffs will not be fully reciprocal. I could have done that, I guess. But it would have been tough for a lot of countries."

His nearly 50-minute-long speech from the White House Rose Garden was attended by his cabinet and representatives of the US steel and auto industries besides people from the working class. He called April ...