On July 7th, local time in the United States, former President Donald Trump finally revealed the list of countries targeted for new tariffs along with the respective tax rates. Notably, the number of countries facing tariffs increased from the initially mentioned 12 to 14. According to Trump’s announcement, imports from these 14 countries would be subject to tariffs ranging between 25nd 40%.
The 14 countries designated for these tariff hikes include Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos, Myanmar, Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia, and Thailand. Among them, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kazakhstan will face tariffs set at 25%. South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina are to be hit with 30%, while Indonesia’s imports will be taxed at 32%. Serbia and Bangladesh will see a 35% tariff, Thailand and Cambodia 36%, and the steepest rate of 40% will be imposed on Laos and Myanmar.
展开剩余80%In the official letter, Trump also issued a stern warning: if any of these countries respond by raising tariffs against the United States, America will retaliate by doubling the imposed tariff rates. Essentially, any nation that dares to retaliate will face an immediate doubling of their tax rates on goods exported to the US.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump intends to sign an executive order to extend the 90-day postponement period of the “reciprocal tariffs,” pushing the implementation date from July 9th to August 1st. This means the affected 14 countries have nearly an entire month to reconsider and negotiate; if they fail to comply with the US tariff demands within this grace period, the US will proceed with the tariffs as scheduled.
Trump’s move has instantly grabbed global attention. The decision to impose tariffs on these 14 nations underscores three significant issues. First, tariffs are Trump’s ultimate weapon. Since taking office, his key policy approach has revolved around raising tariffs. Faced with a staggering $37 trillion national debt, the US needs to recoup funds from global trade partners. Rather than resorting to military conflict, Trump has opted to leverage tariff wars as a tool to extract economic concessions worldwide. His contradictory stance—advocating for global trade while aggressively wielding tariff threats—reveals tariffs as his primary and almost sole instrument of governance.
Second, the tariff hikes have alienated much of the world. Trump has imposed tariffs on goods from over 170 countries, initially giving them 90 days to respond, now extended to August 1st. Should these nations refuse to agree to US terms within the deadline, they will face the full tariff rates set by Washington. This domineering, almost paternalistic approach has angered many countries, sparking resistance campaigns worldwide. The recent announcement targeting 14 specific nations only deepens these diplomatic rifts. Currently, only a handful of countries have signed agreements, leaving the ultimate enforcement of these tariffs uncertain.
Third, ordinary American consumers will bear the brunt of these tariffs. While Trump seeks to impose tariffs to “collect” from the world, the reality is that American citizens end up paying more. Importers, confronted with higher taxes, pass on the increased costs to buyers. Consumers often find themselves paying 30% to 100% more for the same products, quietly raising the cost of living.
Trump is well aware that his tariff policies will ultimately hurt his own people. However, as a businessman-turned-president, his priority is how to increase government revenues, rather than ensuring the well-being of everyday Americans. This stance risks eroding his popular support. Indeed, recent polling data show a dip in Trump’s approval ratings, partly due to these economic pressures.
With the US tariff hammer now falling, how should the rest of the world respond? The ongoing tariff war between China and the US offers a clear example: leveraging their own strengths to negotiate and compete strategically to maximize their own benefits. The global community must not be intimidated by America’s tariff threats. In fact, the more fearful nations become, the quicker and harder the tariff blows will fall, increasing the damage. This moment serves as a test of endurance and resolve for all countries facing these challenges.
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