US President Donald Trump has signed letters to 12 countries outlining the tariff levels they would face on goods exported to the US. The “take it or leave it” offers will be sent out on Monday.
Trump believes that sending letters is better than complicated negotiations. However, talks with major trading partners like the European Union and India have not resulted in agreements so far.
The only trade deals reached are with Britain and Vietnam. A deal with India has failed to materialize, and EU diplomats are seeking to extend the status quo to avoid tariff hikes.
Trump had initially expected a first batch of letters to go out on Friday but shifted the date due to the July 4th holiday. The period for negotiations ends on July 9, and most tariffs are set to take effect August 1.
The White House’s strategy reflects the challenges of completing trade agreements on tariffs and non-tariff barriers within an accelerated timeline. Most past deals have taken years to complete.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-tariff-letters-12-countries-signed-going-out-monday-2025-07-05