Trump Announces Fresh Tariffs. List Of Worst-Hit Countries

The US leader, however, said he was still open to additional negotiations, indicating that he may be flexible on his new August 1 deadline to reach deals. 

Trump also said that "for the most part," he was content to simply impose higher tariff rates, even as he indicated that he was continuing negotiations, including talks with India that could soon be wrapped up.

We've made a deal with the United Kingdom, we've made a deal with China, we've made a deal - we're close to making a deal with India...Others we met with, we don't think we're going to be able to make a deal. So we just send them a letter," the Republican said. 

List Of Countries Trump Sent Letters To

• Laos- 40 per cent tariffs
• Myanmar- 40 per cent tariffs 
• Thailand- 36 per cent tariffs
• Cambodia - 36 per cent tariffs
• Bangladesh -  35 per cent tariffs
• Serbia - 35 per cent tariffs
• Indonesia - 32 per cent tariffs
• South Africa- 30 per cent tariffs
• Bosnia and Herzegovina- 30 per cent tariffs
• Malaysia- 25 per cent tariffs
• Tunisia- 25 per cent tariffs
• Japan- 25 per cent tariffs
• South Korea- 25 per cent tariffs
• Kazakhstan- 25 per cent tariffs

Trump Teases Deadline

Trump, however, teased the possibility of additional negotiations and delays, saying the August 1 deadline was "not 100 per cent firm", signalling he was open to continuing to tweak the rates.

"Maybe adjust a little bit, depending...We're not going to be unfair," Trump said, indicating he would look favourably on countries continuing to offer additional concessions. 

The US has reached only two agreements so far, with Britain and Vietnam.

Trump also warned that any reprisal steps by trading partners would be met with a like-for-like response.

"If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the 25 per cent that we charge," he said in letters, released on his Truth Social platform, to Japan and South Korea. 

The higher tariffs take effect August 1, and notably will not combine with previously announced sector tariffs such as those on automobiles and steel and aluminium. That means, for instance, that Japanese vehicle tariffs will remain at 25 per cent, rather than the existing 25 per cent auto sector tariff, climbing to 50 per cent with the new reciprocal rate -- as has occurred with some of Trump's tariffs earlier.