The United States is sending a clear message to its trading partners. Nations without a trade agreement by August 1st will face new taxes on their goods. This announcement came from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
This is not a new surprise, but a firm deadline. President Donald Trump first announced these tariffs back on April 2nd. He said most imports would get a 10% tax. Countries that sell more to the U.S. than they buy would see even higher taxes, from 25% to 50%. But President Trump then paused these higher taxes for 90 days. This break was meant to give countries time to talk and make new trade deals. That 90-day pause ends very soon, on July 9th.
President Trump likes to handle things directly. He recently told the press he signed letters about these tariffs. He plans to send these letters to 12 countries on Monday, July 7th. More letters will follow. He explained he prefers sending these letters over long negotiations. Over the past three months, the U.S. government promised over 90 trade agreements. So far, only three have actually happened.
Secretary Bessent spoke to CNN on Sunday. He made it clear that if no deal is struck, the tariffs will go back to the rates President Trump announced in April. Bessent emphasized this is not a fresh deadline. Instead, it is the date when the changes will happen. He said, “If you want to speed things up, get moving.” He added, “If you want the tariffs to go back to the original rate, that’s your choice.”
The Treasury Secretary hinted that things are moving quickly behind the scenes. He mentioned that many countries are “foot-dragging.” He still expects several important announcements in the next day or two. This suggests a push for last-minute agreements before the August 1st date arrives.
Source: Axios