Trump uses tariffs as a key tool to force changes to U.S. trade relationships, but his on-again, off-again approach has roiled markets and stoked uncertainty.Trump uses tariffs as a key tool to force changes to U.S. trade relationships, but his on-again, off-again approach has roiled markets and stoked uncertainty.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday sent letters dictating new U.S. tariff rates on at least six more countries’ imports, leaning into his aggressive approach to resetting America’s global trade relationships.
The latest letters, revealed by Trump via Truth Social screenshots, were sent to the leaders of the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Iraq and Libya.
Trump had teased the announcement Tuesday evening, writing on social media that he will release a “minimum of 7 Countries” on Wednesday morning and an “additional number of Countries” in the afternoon.
The new round of tariff letters comes two days after Trump first shared letters telling 14 countries’ leaders that their exports to the U.S. would face steep new tariffs starting Aug. 1.
The nearly identical two-page letters signed by Trump were sent to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos, Myanmar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia and Thailand.
The rates for each country range from 20% to 40%. The letters note that the U.S. will “perhaps” consider adjusting the new tariff levels, “depending on our relationship with your Country.”
Many of those rates are close to what Trump had imposed as part of his “liberation day” tariff rollout on April 2, which set a 10% baseline levy for nearly all countries on earth and slapped much higher duties on dozens of individual nations.
That announcement sparked a week of turmoil in global trading markets, which only ended when Trump abruptly said he would pause those higher rates for 90 days.
That reprieve was set to expire Wednesday. But on Monday, Trump signed an executive order delaying the tariff deadline until Aug. 1.
In another post earlier Tuesday, Trump asserted that “there will be no change” to the August start date.
“No extensions will be granted,” he said.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
