Donald Trump said he was considering sending letters to the US trade partners, on Friday, informing the taxation of punitive customs duties, which would come into force on August 1, while negotiations on the subject are in their final stretch.
“I look to send a letter to indicate the customs duties they will have to pay,” he told the press on Thursday, saying it was “much easier” to do so.
“We are going to send letters, probably tomorrow,” he said, adding: “10 or 12” letters would start on Friday, then other letters “in the coming days”, “all countries” to be “covered for July 9”.
On July 9 is the deadline set by Donald Trump so that dozens of trade partners in the United States, ranging from Taiwan to the European Union, manage to conclude an agreement with Washington.
Regarding the rates that will appear in these letters, “they may vary in value from 60 or 70 % customs duties to 10 and 20 % customs duties,” said Trump. According to him, the countries in question will start paying on August 1.
In early April, the American president caused a shock wave by announcing a drastic increase in customs duties against the rest of the world: a minimum surcharge of 10 %, which can go up to 50 % for countries exporting more to the United States than they are important to American products.
The president then suspended these customs taxes, leaving the way for commercial negotiations with each of the partners.
US officials have said that a series of trade agreements could be announced in the coming days.
For the time being, the administration of Donald Trump has only revealed agreements with the United Kingdom and Vietnam, while Washington and Beijing have agreed to temporarily reduce their reciprocal taxes.
As July 9 approaches, Donald Trump repeatedly repeated his intention to inform the countries of American customs tariffs by letter.
