Trump impossible 25% tariffs on Japan,South Korea,12 others

Ira Singh
Khabar Khabaron Ki,08 July’25

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffs, setting a 25% duty on imports from Japan and South Korea, and imposing elevated rates on goods from 12 additional countries. The new tariffs, shared via letters posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform, will go into effect on August 1.

The letters, addressed personally to each foreign leader, warned against retaliatory tariffs, threatening even higher duties if any country responded in kind. “If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25 percent that we charge,” Trump wrote to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.

Under Trump’s new order, the tariffs apply as follows:

25% – Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia

30% – South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina

32% – Indonesia

35% – Serbia, Bangladesh

36% – Cambodia, Thailand

40% – Myanmar, Laos

Autos from all countries will be taxed separately at 25%, while steel and aluminum imports will face a hefty 50% tariff.

Trump framed the move as both strategic and protective of U.S. interests, describing the rates as “only” what each country deserves. He suggested that these tariffs are a response to longstanding trade imbalances and a tool to revive domestic manufacturing, especially following last week’s tax cut legislation.

The announcement has sent ripples across the global trade community, with fears rising that it could trigger retaliatory actions, intensify economic uncertainty, and dampen growth. Trump’s decision bypassed traditional diplomatic channels, opting instead for unilateral declarations under what he termed an “economic emergency.”

“This is about tailor-made trade plans for each and every country on this planet,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, defending the administration’s personalized tariff strategy.

Trump’s letters emphasize that the rates are not final settlements but executive choices made in the absence of satisfactory trade deals. The letters also reveal ongoing frustrations with protracted trade negotiations and signal that further shifts — up or down — are possible, depending on how countries respond.

In a related move, Trump also posted that countries aligning with the BRICS bloc — including India, China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and others — would face an additional 10% tariff unless they distanced themselves from the group’s policies.

The decision to target Japan and South Korea, two long-standing U.S. allies in Asia and key counterweights to China’s regional dominance, has puzzled analysts.“Strategically, these tariffs are baffling,” said a Washington-based trade expert. “Punishing key allies may undermine efforts to present a unified front against China’s economic ambitions.”

While Trump touts tariffs as a tool to strengthen the U.S. economy, critics warn that the sudden increases could result in higher prices for consumers and strain diplomatic relations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.This is not Trump’s first clash with Japan and South Korea over trade. During his first term, he renegotiated the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and inked a limited trade deal with Japan. However, Monday’s tariff announcement signals his belief that those earlier efforts were insufficient.

The three-week lead-up to the August 1 implementation date is expected to see a flurry of activity among U.S. allies and trading partners, all scrambling to determine their next moves.