President Trump on Monday sent letters to seven countries, including Japan and South Korea, announcing heavy tariffs on goods they send to the U.S., making critical Asian allies the first targets of his summer round of levies.
Mr. Trump smacked Japan and South Korea with 25% tariff apiece and announced levies ranging from 25% to 40% on Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and South Africa.
Mr. Trump’s letters, which he posted to his social media website, are cordial in tone but say the U.S. has been harmed by a trade situation he views as unfair.
“We have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE,” Mr. Trump wrote in separate letters to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and presidents, prime ministers and sultans of other countries.
Trading partners are bracing for Mr. Trump’s nation-by-nation decisions on “Liberation Day” tariffs that