The US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, assured on Sunday (20) that the tariffs imposed by the United States will take effect on August 1, the day he considered as a “rigid final deadline.” “Nothing prevents countries from talking to us after August 1, but they will start paying the tariffs on August 1,” he told the American station CBS.
Lutnick also said that the implementation of rates aims to make the United States “stronger” and “protect the country”. He states that so far, the implementation of tariffs has made affected countries “come to the negotiating table” and will have to “open their markets or will pay the fare.”
On July 9, Trump imposed 50% rates on Brazil after sending a letter directed to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT). In the document, the Republican also criticized the unjust trade relationship maintained between countries, and the stance of the Supreme Court (STF) against former President Jair Messias Bolsonaro (PL).
“I met and dealt with former President Jair Bolsonaro and respected him deeply. The way Brazil treated former President Bolsonaro, a highly respected leader around the world during his term, including the United States, is an international shame. This trial should not be happening. It is a witch hunt that should be over immediately!” Wrote the Republican.
What countries have you negotiated?
United Kingdom
After the announcement of a preliminary agreement in May, on the 16th the United Kingdom and the United States formalized an agreement to reduce car tariffs, steel and aluminum aluminum, as well as aerospace equipment.
The announcement was made by President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Stmerer during the G7 summit. However, steel, aluminum and some other sectors, such as the pharmacist, were not included in a specific agreement, obeying general rates imposed on all countries.
China
On June 27, China confirmed a trade agreement with the United States, involving restricted goods, such as rare lands, and flexibility of commercial restrictions.
The document signed in London signals that “China will revise and approve the export requests of controlled goods that comply with the requirements according to the law”, in an apparent reference to rare lands, essential minerals for sectors such as defense and automotive industry, whose production is controlled by the XI Jinping regime, which imposed restrictions on its sale abroad in early April.
In return, the Ministry of Commerce reported that “the United States agreed to cancel a series of restrictive measures that took against China” without offering details about it.
On May 12, both countries had already reduced mutual tariffs; The US dropped from 145% to 30% and China from 125% to 10%.
However, the United States may again aim at the Asian country with new secondary tariffs, which also aim at other BRICS countries. In order to make Russia join a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, Trump can reach Brazil, China and India – countries that buy Russian fuel and help Putin keep their war machine.
The Republican said he will apply 100% rates on Russian imported products and secondary at the same level to Putin’s nations if a deal is not reached to interrupt the war with Ukraine within 50 days.
“I am disappointed with President Putin, because I thought we could have reached a deal two months ago, but it seems that we did not get there. So, based on that, let’s apply secondary rates,” the president said.
Vietnam
On July 2, the United States and Vietnam arrived at a tariff reduction agreement, in exchange for the opening of the Vietnamese market for American products.
The agreement directly impacts China, an important commercial partner of Vietnam. Trump said he would impose a 20% rate on all imports and a 40% rate on any “transhipment”.
The United States is the largest export market in the Asian country, and the tariff imposed by Trump was 46% before this negotiation – at the time, one of the highest ever faced by any country.
Indonesia
On July 15, Trump announced a trade agreement with Indonesia, establishing a 19% rate for the Asian country – the Republican had threatened to impose a 32%. On the other hand, it was agreed that the United States will not pay tariffs.
After the announcement, Trump stated that his country will have “total access to Indonesia, and we have some of these agreements that will be announced.” “I negotiated directly with their very respected president.” Truth Social.
What countries are in advanced but not yet finished agreements?
Mexico and European Union
On July 12, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said she believes that an agreement with the United States could be reached before 30% tariffs are in force on August 1.
“We believe we will reach an agreement with the US government and, of course, in better condition,” said Sheinbaum.
Negotiations were ongoing, but were interrupted when Trump announced that he would apply a 30% rate on European Union and Mexico products earlier last week, when the Republican sent more than 25 tariff letters. Fees come into force on August 1, but the Republican threatened them if the EU or Mexico applied retaliatory measures.
European Union Commerce Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on the 14th that the bloc wants to “negotiate tariffs with the US first, but everything is on the table, including retaliation.”
Sefcovic also stated that both were “very close to an agreement” and had been talking to the Americans almost every day last week before Trump’s letter, which created “a totally different dynamic.”
