Trump: First tariff letters to be sent on July 7

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he would start sending other countries the first letters on tariffs and trade deals ahead of the Aug 1 deadline for the paused levies to take effect.

“I am pleased to announce that the US tariff letters, and/or deals, with various countries from around the world, will be delivered starting 12pm (Eastern), Monday, July 7th,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social network on July 6.

He had earlier said that Washington is close to finalising several trade agreements in the coming days and will notify other countries of higher tariff rates by July 9.

Washington and Vietnam last week struck a deal

that will see tariffs on Vietnamese goods reduce from 46 per cent to 20 per cent. But a 40 per cent tariff will be levied on goods passing through the country to avoid trade barriers, a move that analysts say is meant to target Chinese re-exports to the US. AFP