Trump Announces Tariff Letters to 12 Nations: Trade Talks with India in Progress

President Donald Trump revealed he had signed letters directed at 12 countries, outlining the tariff levels they will face on exports to the United States. Describing the letters as "take it or leave it" offers, Trump stated they would be sent out on Monday.

Details Withheld Until Official Release

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to New Jersey, Trump declined to name the countries involved, saying the information would be released publicly on Monday. Earlier in the week, he had indicated that the first batch of letters might go out on Friday, July 4 — a U.S. national holiday — but the timeline has since shifted.

Background: Escalation in Global Trade Tensions

The announcement comes amid a broader global trade standoff that has shaken financial markets and prompted urgent responses from governments worldwide. Back in April, Trump introduced a base tariff rate of 10%, with the potential for additional tariffs reaching as high as 50% for several nations.

Temporary Suspension and Negotiation Window

Following the announcement, tariffs above the 10% base rate were suspended for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. This suspension period is set to expire on July 9. However, Trump hinted on Friday that tariffs could increase even further — potentially up to 70% — with most of the changes taking effect on August 1.

“I signed some letters, and they’ll go out on Monday, probably twelve,” Trump said. “Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs.”

Shift Away from Negotiations

Initially, the White House had intended to negotiate tariffs with a broad array of countries. However, Trump expressed growing frustration with the slow progress of talks, particularly with key trading partners like Japan and the European Union.

“The letters are better ... much easier to send a letter,” Trump said, implying a preference for unilateral action over drawn-out negotiations.

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Tight Deadline for Trade Deals

Despite earlier optimism, Trump did not revisit his previous prediction that several trade deals could be finalised before the July 9 deadline. The administration’s approach now reflects the complexity of negotiating comprehensive trade agreements — which typically involve years of talks — within a compressed timeline.

Progress with Select Nations

To date, only two nations have finalised trade arrangements under Trump’s revised tariff policy:

• United Kingdom: Retained the 10% tariff rate with preferential treatment in sectors like automobiles and aircraft engines.
• Vietnam: Secured a deal reducing tariffs on Vietnamese goods from a threatened 46% to 20%, while allowing many U.S. products duty-free access to Vietnamese markets.

Stalled Talks with India and the EU

Negotiations with India have yet to yield an agreement, and European Union officials reported no breakthroughs in recent discussions. EU diplomats suggested they may attempt to maintain the current trade arrangements to stave off steep tariff hikes.

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