President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, said on Wednesday that he has advised Trump to impose across-the-board tariffs country-by-country to restore trade reciprocity and fairness.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance introduces Howard Lutnick, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be commerce secretary, at a Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 29, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

"My way of thinking, and I discussed this with the President, is country by country, macro," Lutnick told a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing when asked his preference for how Trump should impose tariffs.

"We are treated horribly by the global trading environment, they all have higher tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers and subsidies," Lutnick said. "They treat us poorly. We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect, and we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect."