On Monday, July 8, 2025, President of the United States Donald Trump announced the imposition of new trade tariffs on 14 countries, with the highest being a 40% tariff targeting Myanmar and Laos. These new regulations will take effect starting August 1.
Trump revealed the new tariff policy through his Truth Social media platform, stating that official letters outlining the measures have already been sent to the heads of state of all the affected countries. He described the action as “a new wave of tariff letters.”
In these communications, Trump issued a strong warning: if any of the affected countries raise their tariffs on the United States as retaliation, his administration will respond with an equivalent percentage increase. “If you increase your tariffs on us for any reason, we will match that percentage with an additional tariff,” he declared.
Trump explained that these new tariffs are necessary to correct what he described as years of flawed trade policies that have led to a massive trade deficit for the United States. He noted that the new measures include both tariff and non-tariff barriers.
“This trade deficit threatens not only our economy but also our national security,” Trump said in the post.
When White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt was asked why countries such as Japan and South Korea were included, she replied, “That is the president’s sole discretion. He selected the countries he deemed appropriate.”
Leavitt also mentioned that the Trump administration is nearing the end of trade deal negotiations with several more international partners. “The president’s goal is to make every deal as advantageous to the United States as possible,” she said.
List of Tariff Rates by Country:
- Myanmar – 40%
- Laos – 40%
- Cambodia – 36%
- Thailand – 36%
- Bangladesh – 35%
- Serbia – 35%
- Indonesia – 32%
- South Africa – 30%
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30%
- Japan – 25%
- Kazakhstan – 25%
- Malaysia – 25%
- South Korea – 25%
- Tunisia – 25%
The announcement marks a major shift in the United States’ global trade posture, emphasizing Trump’s continued focus on prioritizing American economic interests.