Trump to Announce Trade Tariffs Within Two Weeks Ahead of July 2025 Deadline

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to set new international trade tariff rates within the next two weeks, as part of his administration’s push to finalise key trade deals before a looming July 2025 deadline.

Trump Targets Major Economies with Tariff Letters

Speaking at the Kennedy Centre, President Trump revealed that his administration will send formal letters to major trading partners outlining the proposed tariff terms.

“At a certain point, we’re just going to send letters out saying, ‘this is the deal’ – take it or leave it,” Trump stated.

“We’re going to be sending letters out in a week and a half to two weeks telling them what the deal is.”

The letters will mark a critical step in the White House’s global trade strategy, targeting countries such as Japan, South Korea, and over a dozen others currently in negotiations with the US.

Will the July 9 Trade Deadline Hold?

The July 9 deadline is intended to pressure nations into signing new bilateral trade agreements or face steep tariffs on exports to the United States. However, Trump’s past trade deadlines have frequently been extended or missed.

When asked about the possibility of pushing back the July 2025 deadline, Trump said:

“I would, but I don’t think we’re going to have that necessity.”

“Liberation Day” Tariffs Set for Early July 2025

Initially unveiled in April, Trump’s proposed import tariffs—dubbed “liberation day” tariffs—were delayed by a 90-day extension to allow for further negotiations. These tariffs are now expected to come into force in early July 2025.

The trade policy aims to rebalance trade relationships and reduce the US trade deficit by imposing significant duties on countries that fail to agree to new trade terms.

US Trade Deals: Progress with UK and China

To date, Trump’s administration has successfully finalised a post-Brexit trade agreement with the United Kingdom and has outlined a new trade framework with China.

Trump claimed on Wednesday that a “trade deal with China is done,” and that the US has secured rare earth mineral supplies—an essential component in high-tech and defence manufacturing. However, no further details of the agreement were disclosed.

(Sources: investing.com, reuters.com)