US President Donald Trump has taken a bold step in trade negotiations. On Saturday, he said he signed letters addressed to 12 countries. These letters outline new tariff measures. He described them as “take it or leave it” offers. The letters will be sent on Monday, just before the 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs ends on July 9.
Trump Speaks from Air Force One
While flying to New Jersey for the July 4 celebrations, Trump told reporters, “I signed some letters and they’ll go out on Monday, probably twelve. Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs.” However, he did not name the countries.
Background on the Tariff Plan
Back in April, Trump announced a 10% base tariff on most imports. He warned that some countries could face tariffs as high as 50%. However, these measures were paused for 90 days to give room for negotiations. That pause is about to expire.
India Sticks to Its Own Terms
Meanwhile, India has made its stance clear. Union Commerce and Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said that India will not rush into a trade deal. He stated, “India never makes a trade deal based on a timeline.” Instead, India will negotiate only when terms benefit the country.
Earlier, sources told News18 that the India-US trade deal might conclude soon. A senior Indian delegation had visited Washington for high-level talks and has now returned.
US Finalizes Deals with UK and Vietnam
So far, the Trump administration has secured trade deals with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Additionally, the US and China agreed to temporarily lower high tariffs on each other’s goods. These steps show progress, although tensions still remain.
Japan Deal May Not Happen
On the other hand, talks with Japan seem uncertain. Earlier this week, Trump said, “We’ve dealt with Japan. I’m not sure if we’re gonna make a deal, I doubt it, with Japan. They and others are so spoiled from having ripped us off for 30, 40 years that it’s really hard for them to make a deal.”
What Lies Ahead
As the July 9 deadline approaches, countries must respond to the US letters. Trump has signaled that he is willing to act tough on trade. While some nations may agree to new deals, others—like India—are standing their ground. The coming days will show how global trade relationships shift under this pressure.