USA Threatens Harsh Tariffs for Countries Without Trade Deal by August
Countries that haven’t finalized a trade agreement with the United States are running out of time, as the White House prepares to reimpose steep tariffs next month.
According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, President Donald Trump will begin sending formal notices this week to nations still without a signed deal.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Bessent said that unless agreements are reached soon, the tariff rates originally announced on April 2 will be fully reinstated on August 1. “These aren’t warnings. These are notifications. The pause ends August 1, and the tariffs come back in full,” Bessent stated.
The letters, expected to go out Monday, are directed at roughly a dozen countries that had been granted a temporary reprieve under a 90-day window meant to allow room for negotiation. That window expires this Wednesday.
Trump first unveiled sweeping new tariffs in early April, prompting backlash from trade partners and concern over economic fallout. A three-month delay was offered to nations willing to renegotiate their terms with Washington, but with little visible progress, the administration now appears ready to follow through.
“This isn’t an open-ended process,” Bessent said. “Deals need to be done—or the tariffs return.”
President Trump echoed this stance on Friday, telling reporters that any country still without a deal will begin paying the higher rates starting August 1. “That money starts flowing in on the first of the month,” he said.
While Bessent stopped short of naming which countries are closest to resolving their disputes, he hinted at imminent developments. “We could see some major announcements in the next few days,” he added, potentially signaling last-minute breakthroughs just before the Wednesday cutoff.
Alexander Zdravkov
Reporter at Coindoo
Alexander Zdravkov is a person who always looks for the logic behind things. He is fluent in German and has more than 3 years of experience in the crypto space, where he skillfully identifies new trends in the world of digital currencies. Whether providing in-depth analysis or daily reports on all topics, his deep understanding and enthusiasm for what he does make him a valuable member of the team.
