Exports from Jamaica to the United States will now attract a 10 per cent tariff as US President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed charges on imports to the North American country from countries around the world.

READ: Trump unveils sweeping global tariffs

The White House listed the tariff on Jamaica as “reciprocal” in response to a 10 per cent tariff Jamaica imposes on goods imported into the island from the US.

Caribbean neighbours Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and St Kitts-Nevis among others have also been slapped with a 10 per cent tariff.

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden against a backdrop of US flags, Trump slapped the most stinging tariffs on China and the European Union on what he called “Liberation Day.”

“For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said.

Trump reserved some of the heaviest blows for what he called the “nations that treat us badly,” including 34 per cent on goods from superpower rival China, 20 per cent on key ally the European Union and 24 per cent on Japan.

But the 78-year-old Republican — who held up a chart with a list of levies — said that he was “very kind” and so was only imposing half the amount that those countries taxed US exports.

For the rest, Trump said he would impose a “baseline” tariff of 10 per cent, including Britain.

An audience of cabinet members, as well as workers in hard hats from industries including steel, oil and gas, whooped and cheered as Trump said the tariffs would “make America wealthy again.”

“This is Liberation Day,” Trump said, adding that it would “forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed.”

Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 per cent that Trump announced last week are also due to take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) Thursday.

Additional reporting from AP