‘Take It Or Leave It’: Trump Signs Off On New Tariffs For 12 Countries, Letters Out Monday
US President Donald Trump has announced that he has signed off on “take it or leave it” tariff offers for 12 countries, with formal letters set to be dispatched on Monday. The move signals a major shift in strategy, away from protracted negotiations, just days before a July 9 deadline when a suspension on steep tariffs is set to expire.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump confirmed the decision but declined to name the countries involved, saying that information would be made public on Monday. “I signed some letters and they’ll go out on Monday, probably twelve,” Trump said, according to a Reuters report. “Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs.”
The development marks a significant escalation in the global trade war initiated by the Trump administration. In April, Trump had announced a 10% base tariff and additional tariffs of up to 50% on most countries, but the higher rates were suspended for 90 days to allow for negotiations. That window closes on Wednesday, July 9.
Trump has become disillusioned with the negotiation process following difficulties with major trading partners, including the European Union and India. “The letters are better… much easier to send a letter,” he told reporters on Friday, indicating a preference for unilateral action over complex deal-making. He has also warned that the new tariffs could go as high as 70% and would likely take effect on August 1.
This new approach raises serious concerns for India, where bilateral trade talks in Washington have hit a stalemate, primarily over US demands for market access in the dairy and agriculture sectors. While the US has finalized deals with Britain and Vietnam, a pact with India has remained elusive.
The move by the Trump administration to issue non-negotiable tariff letters puts immense pressure on the 12 undisclosed nations to either accept the terms or face potentially crippling duties on their exports to the world’s largest economy.
