Daily Updates News 
In a major escalation of trade policy, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he has signed letters to 12 countries, outlining new tariff rates on their exports to the United States. Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to New Jersey, Trump described the move as a series of “take it or leave it” offers, with letters expected to be sent on Monday.
Although he declined to name the targeted nations, Trump hinted that duties could range between 10% and 70%, depending on the trade deficit and negotiations with each country. “Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs,” he said.
This announcement comes just days before the July 9 deadline, when previously delayed tariff hikes are set to take effect. The president originally announced a 10% global tariff in April, with plans to impose steeper rates on select countries unless bilateral trade deals were made.
So far, agreements have been reached with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while China and the U.S. have agreed to reduce certain tariffs temporarily. However, a long-anticipated deal with India has failed to materialize. The European Union, too, has struggled to reach a breakthrough and may now seek to maintain current terms to avoid costly hikes.
Trump emphasized that issuing letters is far more efficient than engaging in lengthy negotiations with multiple governments. “With the UK, we did that. With China, we did that. It works,” he stated.
The letters mark a critical shift in how the U.S. plans to enforce trade terms, signaling a tougher stance on countries with significant trade imbalances. Global markets are watching closely, as the letters could spark new tensions or set the stage for a fresh round of trade diplomacy.
