On July 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order officially postponing the original July 9 deadline for the “reciprocal tariffs.” Now, the tariffs will come into effect on August 1, 2025, providing extra time for trade negotiations with affected nations. For companies importing from the listed countries, this brief extension is a key moment to prepare.
Tariff Letters Sent to 14 Countries
US President Donald Trump sent tariff letters to 14 nations, with Japan and South Korea being the first recipients, imposing taxes ranging from 25% to 40% on their imports.
Additional Tariff Threat Against BRICS-Aligned Countries
Additionally, in a separate post, Trump also threatened an additional 10% tariff on countries aligning with the emerging BRICS bloc, accusing them of “anti-Americanism” after they criticised his trade policies at a summit held in Brazil’s Rio on Sunday.
Reciprocal Tariffs to Address Trade Deficit
Starting August 1, countries will be subject to new reciprocal tariff rates designed to make the terms of our bilateral trade relationships more reciprocal over time and to address the national emergency caused by the massive U.S. goods trade deficit.
In some instances, countries will be subject to a revised reciprocal tariff rate that is lower than the rate initially announced on April 2. For others, the reciprocal tariff rate may be higher than the previous rate.
Countries Receiving Tariff Letters
The President may send more letters in the coming days and weeks. The countries he sent letters on 07th July include:
- Japan (25%)
- Korea (25%)
- South Africa (30%)
- Kazakhstan (25%)
- Laos (40%)
- Malaysia (25%)
- Myanmar (40%)
- Tunisia (25%)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (30%)
- Indonesia (32%)
- Bangladesh (35%)
- Serbia (35%)
- Cambodia (36%)
- Thailand (36%)
How to Respond Strategically
If your operations involve sourcing or importing from these countries, now is a crucial time to review landed costs, check product classifications, and revisit your duty planning. If needed, we’re available to support with impact assessments or mitigation strategies.
Source: White House Fact Sheet