Trump Says ‘Probably 12’ Tariff Letters Going Out Monday

AFP/APP

Morristown: US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has signed around 12 trade letters that will be sent out early next week, ahead of the implementation of new tariffs on dozens of global economies.

“I signed some letters and they’ll go out on Monday—probably 12,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that the countries receiving the notices will be named the same day.

The remarks come just days before steeper duties—ranging from 10 to 70 percent—are set to take effect. The tariffs are part of a broader plan announced in April, when Trump imposed a 10 percent duty on imports from nearly all US trading partners, with additional hikes scheduled for a select group of countries.

However, he temporarily paused the increases until July 9 to allow room for negotiations. Many countries have since been working to secure trade agreements to avoid being hit by the elevated rates.

So far, the Trump administration has finalized deals with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while the US and China have agreed to scale back certain tariffs as part of an ongoing trade détente.

As the July 9 deadline approaches, Trump has reiterated his plan to notify affected countries via formal letters. On Friday, he emphasized that sending letters is more efficient than negotiating multiple complex trade arrangements at once.

“With the UK, we did that—and it was great for both parties. With China, we did that, and I think it’s very good for both parties,” Trump said.

He added, “It’s much easier to send a letter saying, ‘Listen, we know we have a certain deficit—or in some cases a surplus, but not too many—and… this is what you have to pay if you want to do business with the United States.’