Donald Trump is pressing forward with a hardline trade strategy, revealing he’s signed letters directed at 12 countries detailing the tariffs they’ll face unless they accept new U.S. trade terms. “Take it or leave it,” Trump said aboard Air Force One as he traveled to New Jersey.
He confirmed the letters would go out Monday but declined to name the countries, adding, “Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs.”
Initially, Trump had signaled the letters would be sent Friday, but the timeline shifted due to the national holiday. He emphasized the urgency, noting tariffs could spike up to 70% by August 1st.
While the administration had aimed for broader negotiations, Trump said simply, “The letters are better…much easier to send a letter.”
So far, deals have only been secured with the UK and Vietnam, while talks with India and the EU have stalled. The clock ticks down toward a July 9th deadline to finalize agreements or face the tariff hammer.
