Trump says 'take it or leave it' tariff letters to 'various countries' will go out Monday; reveals a key detail

Time of India

a day ago

Donald Trump has sent tariff letters to many countries. These letters contain final trade deal proposals. The letters were sent on July 7. Some countries have already made deals with the US. The UK and Vietnam are among them. India and the EU are yet to finalise any deal. The new tariffs will be effective from August 1.
US President Donald Trump has signed tariff letters on exports from 12 countries, which are expected to be sent out on July 7 (Monday).
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India, EU yet to strike deal as U.S. hardens stance
US President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that a series of new tariff letters and trade deal proposals are being dispatched to several countries starting noon Eastern Time, calling them final, non-negotiable offers.'I am pleased to announce that the UNITED STATES TARIFF Letters, and/or Deals, with various Countries from around the World, will be delivered starting 12:00 P.M. (Eastern), Monday, July 7th,' Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. 'Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.The announcement confirms a sharp shift in the U.S. trade strategy — away from drawn-out negotiations toward unilateral terms dictated directly by Washington. Trump had earlier referred to these as 'take it or leave it' proposals, meant to expedite stalled talks and enforce the tariff plan announced in April.The letters are being sent just two days before the July 9 expiration of a 90-day tariff suspension announced in April, when Trump proposed a base 10% tariff on most imports, with provisions to raise rates as high as 70% for certain countries.On Friday, speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the letters would be addressed to about a dozen countries, each receiving different terms based on their trade relationship with the U.S. He declined to name them, saying only that the recipients would be revealed once the letters go out.Thus far, only two countries—the United Kingdom and Vietnam—have secured finalized trade deals with the U.S. The UK negotiated to retain the base tariff rate along with sectoral exemptions, while Vietnam agreed to a reduced 20% tariff, down from a proposed 46%, in exchange for broader market access for U.S. goods.The new tariffs, for countries that do not reach agreement, are expected to take effect from August 1.Negotiations with India and the European Union remain underway. Diplomatic sources in Brussels said last week that talks with Washington had stalled, with no progress toward avoiding the higher tariff brackets. Indian officials have not commented publicly but are believed to be holding out for more flexible terms.With the White House making it clear that the incoming letters are final and 'not open for revision', both India and the EU now face a difficult choice: accept the U.S.-proposed terms or risk facing steep tariffs within weeks.Trade experts warn that the lack of bilateral flexibility could trigger retaliatory measures and inflame global trade tensions , especially if the U.S. implements the higher-end tariffs on sensitive sectors.Despite the potential fallout, Trump defended the move as a necessary correction to what he described as years of imbalanced trade. 'The letters are better... much easier to send a letter,' he said last week, underscoring his frustration with slow-moving negotiations.With the tariff letters now on their way, attention shifts to how U.S. partners—especially those without finalized deals—will respond to Washington's ultimatum.