Trump steps up trade wars with 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea | Trump tariffs

Donald Trump unveiled plans to intensify his trade wars on Monday, but delayed increases in key savings up to next month, in great confusion on his controversial economic strategy.

The American president announced countries, including Japan,, South Korea and South Africa will face prices up to 40% as part of a new wave of samples to be launched on August 1. No increase will take place on Wednesday, however, after extending a previous break.

Publication of copies of letters addressed to world leaders on social networks,, Trump announced:

• 25% of American prices on goods in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.

• 30% American rates on South Africa.

• 40% of American prices on Laos and Myanmar.

The White House confirmed that it would also sign an executive decree to extend a 90 -day break for a list of so -called “reciprocal” prices introduced for the first time in April – indeed, postponing the deadline for commercial negotiations on August 1.

Press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, did not specify which other countries would receive letters, but declared in a press point that 14 countries would receive missives on Monday and that other letters would be sent later this week.

When asked why Japan and South Korea received the first letters, Leavitt said: “It is the prerogative of the president, and it was the countries he has chosen to be on a separate track.”

The president was “close” to other agreements, she added, but “wants to make sure that these are the best possible offers”.

Trump officials initially suggested that they would conclude dozens of transactions with key savings by July 9, but have since indicated that they would ask for an extension to continue the talks.

Letters in Japan and South Korea were largely identical and informed the leaders that there would be no price if their country “decides to build or manufacture products in the United States”.

Trump has also threatened higher rates if countries impose additional prices on American exports. “If, for any reason, you decide to increase your prices, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them, will be added to 25% that we will charge,” he wrote.

In an article on Truth Social Monday, Trump also threatened an additional 10% levy on countries working with the Nations of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) after the Bloc leaders published a declaration expressing “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral prices on Sunday.

Trump initially announced a list of so -called reciprocal prices in April, on what the White House has nicknamed the “Liberation Day”, some countries being confronted at rates up to 50%

The United States has so far established agreements with three countries: the United Kingdom, China and Vietnam, and Bessent said there were more than a dozen countries with which the United States is still trying to negotiate.

The new deadline in August for countries without agreement represents another suspension of three weeks, but also triggers a new uncertainty for importers due to the lack of clarity around prices.

As the deadline of July, Trump officials rushed to business.

The European Union ambassadors were informed on Monday of a manager project which seems to have been agreed during the weekend with the Trump administration. The EU would not receive a letter from the United States establishing higher prices.

The White House has reached a dead end in negotiations with Japan, despite the initial optimism. Trump said on Friday that it was “much easier to send a letter” and that the offers are “taking it or leaving it”.

In Wall Street, the s& p 500 benchmark flowed by 1% after Trump published his first letters.

Although the US stock market has largely recovered from the uncertainty around the Trump trade war, the US dollar remains weakened after months of commercial fighting. At the start of this year, the dollar experienced its six worst months in more than 50 years, down 10.8% since the start of 2025.

British acids are faced with a nervous expectation to find out if they are affected by the American prices, after the British government said it was trying to conclude an agreement to protect the Trump trade industry.

The United States has established a 50% rate on foreign steel and aluminum imports. While the United Kingdom has negotiated a reduced rate of 25% and tries to bring it back to zero, an agreement has not yet been concluded.

On Monday, Downing Street refused to confirm that he was confident that he could eliminate American prices on UK Steel before Trump’s deadline. A spokesperson for n ° 10 said: “Our work with the United States continues to implement this agreement as soon as possible.”