Trump to Notify Nations of New Tariff Rates

President Donald Trump is set to begin formally notifying foreign governments of newly revised U.S. tariff rates starting Monday, marking a decisive shift in his administration’s trade strategy. According to White House officials, letters will be dispatched this week to key international trade partners, giving them until August 1 to renegotiate existing trade agreements or face higher tariff rates that reflect Trump’s push for “reciprocal” trade policies.

The move comes as the 90-day grace period announced in April expires on Wednesday. That temporary pause was designed to give countries time to reach trade agreements with the United States while also calming market jitters surrounding the possibility of an all-out tariff escalation. However, with limited progress reported in many of the bilateral negotiations, the White House is now signaling it will follow through on its tariff plans.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the administration's intent during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. “President Trump will begin notifying our trade partners this week,” Bessent said. “Unless meaningful progress is made on negotiations, previous tariff rates from April 2 will be reinstated and fully enforced starting August 1.”

The administration's move is widely viewed as a pressure tactic aimed at expediting trade talks and forcing countries to commit to new terms under threat of steeper import duties. The new tariff framework — described by the president as “reciprocal” — calculates duty rates based on the trade imbalance between the U.S. and its partner nations. This formula is designed to penalize countries that run large trade surpluses with the U.S.

According to Bessent, around 100 letters will be sent out this week. Most will be directed at smaller economies with which the U.S. has a modest trade volume, though a few larger nations are also expected to receive notifications. Some letters will serve as formal warnings, while others may include final agreements or updates on negotiations that are nearing completion.

President Trump addressed the tariff issue directly while speaking to reporters Sunday afternoon. He confirmed that letters will begin going out Monday at noon and suggested that a small number of finalized trade deals may be among the first batch.

“We’re sending out trade letters starting Monday — could be 12, maybe 15 to begin with,” Trump said. “Some will be notices to renegotiate, and a few could be actual deals. A couple more letters will go out Tuesday and Wednesday. It depends on how things go.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick offered further insight, explaining that although Trump is initiating the process now, the new tariffs won’t officially go into effect until August 1. This delay is intended to provide one final opportunity for countries to make concessions before the U.S. implements the tougher measures.

"The letters are going out now, but tariffs go into effect August 1," Lutnick stated. "The president is setting the stage for either final deals or a return to our April 2 tariff rates. Everyone has had 90 days to prepare. Now it’s time to act.”

Since taking office, Trump has consistently used tariffs as a bargaining chip in his broader strategy to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and bolster domestic manufacturing. Earlier this year, he unveiled his “Reciprocal Tariff Framework,” which proposes higher duties for countries that impose steep tariffs on U.S. goods while enjoying low barriers for their exports to America.

However, this approach has drawn criticism from economists and global trade partners alike, with many warning that the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy under Trump has heightened market volatility. In response to backlash from international markets, the administration initially reduced proposed tariffs to 10% and offered the 90-day window for negotiations.

That window is now closing. With the White House ramping up messaging and formal letters heading out, the international community faces mounting pressure to cut deals or brace for a new wave of tariffs come August 1.