Sat Jul 05 07:45:21 UTC 2025: ## Trump to Impose Tariffs on 12 Countries Amidst Global Trade Tensions
**New Delhi, July 5, 2025** – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that letters outlining proposed tariff levels for 12 unnamed countries will be sent out on Monday, July 7th, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing global trade war. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump stated the offers were “take it or leave it,” suggesting little room for negotiation.
The move comes as the 90-day suspension period for supplemental tariffs, initially announced in April, is set to expire on July 9th. While Trump initially proposed a 10% base tariff, he has now indicated potential tariffs as high as 70% could go into effect on August 1st.
This decision reflects a strategic shift by the White House away from broader trade negotiations with multiple partners, a process that has faced repeated setbacks. Trump himself alluded to this change, stating, “The letters are better… much easier to send a letter.”
While the U.S. has successfully concluded trade agreements with Britain and Vietnam, many other attempts have failed. An expected deal with India has not materialized, and European Union diplomats have expressed their failure to achieve a breakthrough with the Trump administration, with extension of the status quo being considered to avoid potential tariff hikes.
This development is being closely watched globally, including in India, as nations grapple with the potential economic repercussions of escalating trade tensions and the uncertainty created by the Trump administration’s evolving trade policies.
First Piper 