'If You Decide To...': Trump Posts Letters Imposing Tariffs On 7 Nations
Japan and South Korea were among the first countries to receive the letter from Donald Trump regarding imposition of tariffs on import of their goods to the United States.
Embarking on a letter-post spree on Monday, US President Donald Trump sent out similar-worded letters to the leaders of seven countries, imposing tariffs on them which come into effect on August 1.
Japan and South Korea became the first countries to have received the letters shortly after 9.30 pm IST, July 7, as announced by Trump earlier that he would start sending letters to 12 to 15 countries about tariffs or deals with the United States.
Posting the letters addressed to the leaders of the respective countries on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump imposed a 25% levy on imports from both countries.
Minutes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her daily briefing that more letters are expected during the course of the day, Trump posted five more letters to Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and South Africa.
Malaysia and Kazakhstan were slapped with a 25% tariff each on their exports to the US. Both countries widely export materials such as electronics, energy, and industrial metals to the United States.
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The US President further imposed as high as 40% tariffs on goods from Myanmar and Laos. South Africa will face a 30% tariff, as per Trump's announcement.
In each of his seven letters, Trump warned against any retaliatory tariffs, threatening reciprocation from the US.
'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the tariffs that we charge," Trump wrote.
In his letters to Japan and South Korea – two of the closest allies in Asia for the US – Trump cited long-standing trade imbalance with the countries as the reason behind 25% tariffs.
Donald Trump was making 'tailor-made trade plans" for different countries, which will be in the interest of the Americans, the White House Press Secretary said today.
'The President is making tailor-made trade deals. Approximately 12 more nations will receive the letters. The letters will be posted on Truth Social," she said.
India may also receive the tariff letter from Trump today, even as both countries are engaged in negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
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July 08, 2025, 01:35 IST
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