Trump announces revised tariffs of up to 40% on 14 countries

Image: Screenshot from a Cabinet Meeting, July 08.

US President Donald Trump cranked up the pressure Monday on America’s trading partners, firing off letters to heads of several countries, informing them of their new tariff rate. But at the same time, Trump took some of the edge off by signing an executive order Monday determining that certain tariff rates, which were initially set to expire on July 9, will expire on August 1, 2025.

Trump has vowed to push forward with his tariff regime in the coming days, stressing he would not offer additional extensions on country-specific levies set to now hit in early August.

Trump also sent tariff letters to many countries informing them of their new reciprocal tariff rates, which will take effect on August 1. “As per letters sent to various countries yesterday, in addition to letters that will be sent today, tomorrow, and for the next short period of time, tariffs will start being paid on August 1, 2025. There has been no change to this date, and there will be no change.”

The president, in a series of social media posts, shared screenshots of the letters sent to the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos and Myanmar.

Later in the day, he shared another set of seven letters, to the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia and Thailand.

Goods imported to the U.S. from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Tunisia are now set to face 25% tariffs, according to the letters Trump posted.

South African and Bosnian goods will be subject to a 30% U.S. tariff, and imports from Indonesia will be hit with a 32% tariff.

Bangladesh and Serbia are both at 35%, while Cambodia and Thailand are set for 36% tariff rates, the president’s letters said.

Imports from Laos and Myanmar will face a 40% duty, according to the letters Trump posted on Truth Social showed.

Trump said on Tuesday that there will be no further extension of the deadline. “All money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 – No extensions will be granted.”

On Tuesday evening on his social platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that he would be releasing letters to “a minimum of 7 Countries” on Wednesday morning, with additional letters coming out in the afternoon.

In all 14 letters, Trump threatened to raise tariffs even higher than the specified rates if a country retaliated against the United States with tariffs of their own.

“President Trump sent letters to many countries explaining that, starting August 1, they will be subject to new reciprocal tariff rates designed to make the terms of our bilateral trade relationships more reciprocal over time and to address the national emergency caused by the massive U.S. goods trade deficit,” White House told reporters Monday afternoon.

In some instances, countries will be subject to a revised reciprocal tariff rate that is lower than the rate initially announced on April 2.

For others, the reciprocal tariff rate may be higher than the previous rate.

The letters posted so far are all nearly identical to each other, aside from country names and tariff rates.

Many of the nations that have received the letters have welcomed the extension of the deadline and appear eager to continue discussions with the US to strike better deals.

Since Trump modified tariff rates roughly 90 days ago, dozens of countries have agreed or offered to lower their tariff rates and eliminate non-tariff barriers, the White House said in an update entitled “Keeping America in the Driver’s Seat”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X Wednesday that the EU is “working closely” in “good faith” with the Trump Administration to get an agreement.