TRUMP "TARIFF" TRADE

Just two days before the July 9 deadline for a temporary tariff pause , U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp escalation in his trade strategy, declaring that the United States will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Japan and South Korea starting August 1. The move is part of Trump’s renewed push for “reciprocal tariffs”, aiming to force trading partners into fairer trade agreements by matching or exceeding any tariff increases they impose. So far, only Britain and Vietnam have finalized deals, while countries like India are still in the final stages of negotiations. India's agriculture sector remains a key obstacle, but an interim goods-only deal is being considered, as talks on services and labor are delayed.

The U.S. government maintains that the August 1 timeline is an upper limit, not a strict deadline, intended to accelerate global trade talks. The Trump administration claims this assertive tactic has influenced other major economies, including the European Union, to engage more seriously.