U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. will begin notifying major global economies of new tariffs, abandoning plans for bilateral trade negotiations. Starting Friday, Washington will send letters to 10 countries at a time, outlining new flat-rate tariffs ranging from 20% to 30% on exports to the U.S.
Trump acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating with over 170 countries and said the administration would bypass lengthy trade talks. The move marks a shift from his previous pledge to secure “90 trade deals in 90 days,” of which only two — with the U.K. and Vietnam — have been finalized, along with a partial framework agreement with China.
In April, Trump introduced sweeping tariff plans targeting key trading partners but delayed enforcement by 90 days, giving countries until July 9 to reach agreements. That grace period is now expiring, and Trump has signaled there will be no further extensions.
Countries like Japan, South Korea, and India made efforts to negotiate deals but failed to reach any agreements within the deadline. Now, they risk facing tariffs as high as 50%, significantly increasing trade tensions.
The flat-rate tariffs reflect Trump’s increasingly aggressive stance on trade, aimed at addressing what he sees as long-standing imbalances and unfair practices. The administration’s move is likely to impact global trade flows, raise import costs, and provoke retaliation from key allies.
As the July 9 deadline nears, global markets and trading partners are bracing for disruption, with major economies now preparing for a more protectionist U.S. trade policy. The White House’s unilateral approach underscores Trump’s commitment to reshaping U.S. trade relations, even at the risk of sparking trade wars.