U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (July 7, 2025) positioned a 25% tax on items imported from Japan and South Korea, citing persistent commerce imbalances with the 2 essential U.S. allies in Asia.
Mr. Trump supplied discover of the tariffs to start on August 1 by posting letters on Truth Social that had been addressed to the leaders of each nations. The letters warned each nations to not retaliate by rising their very own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would enhance import taxes that would injury the auto and electronics sectors of Japan and South Korea, two essential companions for the US in countering China’s affect.
“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 per cent that we charge,” Trump wrote within the letters to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
