Trump threatens more than a dozen countries with new tariffs by Aug. 1

[ad_1] President Trump on Monday mentioned the uswill impose 25% tariffs on items from South Korea and Japan by Aug. 1, whereas additionally threatening to hit a dozen different nations with steep import duties by subsequent month.

Mr. Trump initially posted two practically an identical letters, addressed to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, on his Fact Social media platform outlining the brand new tariffs. A 90-day freeze on country-specific U.S. tariffs on dozens of countries, together with Japan and South Korea, is scheduled to run out on July 9.

Mr. Trump on Monday afternoon additionally introduced separate tariffs on a further 12 commerce companions. Myanmar and Laos face a 40% tariff fee, the best of the brand new levies the U.S. is threatening to deploy. Thailand and Cambodia face potential tariffs of 36%, whereas Mr. Trump introduced barely decrease tariffs of 35% on each Bangladesh and Serbia.

Indonesia is the lone nation dealing with a attainable tariff fee of 32%. Imports from South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be topic to 30% duties as of August 1, whereas items from Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Tunisia shall be taxed at 25%, Mr. Trump mentioned in letters posted on Fact Social.

White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned throughout a media briefing Monday that Mr. Trump is ready to signal an government order extending the July 9 tariff freeze. The order delays the deadline to "August 1 so the reciprocal tariff fee, or these new charges that shall be offered on this correspondence to those overseas leaders, shall be going out the door inside the subsequent month," Leavitt mentioned.

Leavitt additionally mentioned Mr. Trump was planning to ship tariff letters to "roughly 12 different nations" informing them of latest U.S. levies on their items. She didn't point out when the notices shall be despatched out, however mentioned Mr. Trump will submit them on Fact Social "so you possibly can take pleasure in them your self."

Trump can also be anticipated to announce extra offers with U.S. commerce companions earlier than the start of August, she mentioned.

Mr. Trump included an identical language in every letter informing recipients that the discover "demonstrates the energy and dedication of our Buying and selling Relationship," and that "we invite you to take part within the extraordinary Financial system of america."

The 25% tariffs on South Korea and Japan are in step with the so-called "reciprocal" charges Mr. Trump had introduced when he unveiled country-specific duties on April 2. On the time, the Trump administration mentioned it could impose tariffs of 24% and 25% on imports from Japan and South Korea, respectively.

25% tariff would bathroom down commerce Commerce coverage knowledgeable Barry Appleton, co-director of the Middle for Worldwide Regulation at New York Regulation College, instructed CBS MoneyWatch that Monday's bulletins "are merely indications that he's making them pay full admission value to entry the U.S. market."

"At 25%, it's attainable, however difficult, to commerce with Japan and Korea. This fee was rigorously set on the greater facet of the spectrum. In essence commerce with the U.S. now's a pay to play proposition for Japan, Korea and sure others to come back," he mentioned.

Appleton added that the country-specific charges introduced Monday don't bode effectively for different nations trying to strike offers with the U.S., together with EU nations, Canada and Switzerland.

Economists warn that wide-ranging U.S. tariffs on buying and selling companions may spark one other bout of inflation and hinder financial progress, whereas international monetary markets have heaved on the prospect of considerably greater buying and selling prices.

Trump administration officers have mentioned stiff U.S. tariffs can guarantee honest international commerce whereas additionally boosting the American manufacturing sector.

Extra from CBS Information

Megan Cerullo

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch overlaying small enterprise, office, well being care, shopper spending and private finance matters. She commonly seems on CBS Information 24/7 to debate her reporting.