Trump will send more tariff letters to foreign leaders ‘in the coming days’, White House says
Donald Trump will send foreign leaders more letters notifying them of new tariffs in the days to come, said Karoline Leavitt.
“There will be additional letters in the coming days,” the White House press secretary said, in addition to the 12 he plans to send today and the two already made public, which were to South Korea and Japan’s leaders,
As for why Trump decided to start with the two Asian allies, Leavitt said:
It’s the president’s prerogative and those are the countries he chose.
Key events
Trump posts letters for Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos and Myanmar
Lauren Aratani
Trump has been posting more letters to world leaders on Truth Social, announcing new tariffs set to kick in from August.
These include:
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25% US tariffs on goods from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Kazakhstan
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30% US tariffs on South Africa
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40% US tariffs on Laos and Myanmar
More letters are expected over the next few hours.
A formal US government review concluded that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, contradicting conspiracy theories that hold otherwise. Here’s more, from the Guardian’s Edward Helmore:
A review of files held by the US government on the financier Jeffrey Epstein has said there is no secret client list to be released, and confirmed his August 2019 death by suicide while in federal custody, both of which contradict conspiracy theories.
A memo said that a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) review of the files – which has for years been teased as a treasure trove of information about a larger network of wrongdoing – concluded that no further charges are expected, as investigators “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties”.
The justice department also released hours of footage taken from Manhattan’s metropolitan correctional center, showing that no one entered or left the area where Epstein was held during, before or after the time medical examiners concluded he took his life.
“As part of our commitment to transparency, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conducted an exhaustive review of investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein,” the DOJ said.
Here’s more on the brewing controversy over whether there was enough warning of the Texas flash floods from the Guardian’s Edward Helmore, who is in Kerrville, Texas:
As Texas marshals a formidable response to the flash floods that have already killed dozens, questions are now being posed about warnings that were given on Thursday and early Friday about the severity of the approaching storm and the coordination between local officials and the National Weather Service.
New flood alerts were issued for Texas “hill country” on Sunday, prompting rescue services to suspend the search for missing people, including at least 11 from Camp Mystic, the summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River hard hit by Friday’s flash flood.
At an early evening press briefing, Kerr county authorities said they were suspending the search and evacuating first responders from the river valley. They confirmed that 68 had died there, including 28 children. Not all have been identified, with officials still examining the bodies of 18 adults and 10 children.
Extraordinary tales of resilience have also emerged alongside videos of the destruction and loss that are circulating on social media. On Sunday, a video was posted on X of girls from Camp Mystic being evacuated from the camp and singing the hymns Pass It On and Amazing Grace as they crossed a bridge over the still torrential Guadalupe River.
Karoline Leavitt denied that Donald Trump had ordered weapons shipments to Ukraine paused, instead saying the decision was made as part of a normal review of such shipments by the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
“This was a standard review by the Pentagon of all weapons and all aid and all support that the United States is providing [to] all countries and all regions around the world, not just Ukraine,” the White House press secretary said. “So, it’s a pause to review to ensure that everything the Pentagon is pushing out there is in the best interest of our military and our men and women in uniform.”
Pentagon officials have said the pause was needed to ensure the US has enough weapons for its own needs, but Democrats have accused them of lying:
Trump will send more tariff letters to foreign leaders ‘in the coming days’, White House says
Donald Trump will send foreign leaders more letters notifying them of new tariffs in the days to come, said Karoline Leavitt.
“There will be additional letters in the coming days,” the White House press secretary said, in addition to the 12 he plans to send today and the two already made public, which were to South Korea and Japan’s leaders,
As for why Trump decided to start with the two Asian allies, Leavitt said:
It’s the president’s prerogative and those are the countries he chose.
Trump to send tariff letters to 12 more countries, formally delay reciprocal tariffs
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that in addition to Japan and South Korea, the leaders of 12 more countries will receive letters from Donald Trump announcing the imposition of new tariffs beginning next month.
“There will be approximately 12 other countries that will receive notifications and letters directly from the president of the United States,” Leavitt said. She added that Trump still planned to “create tailor made trade plans for each and every country on this planet”.
She also confirmed that Trump would formally extend his deadline for the imposition of reciprocal tariffs to 1 August from 9 July, with the intention of giving countries more time to negotiate deals:
The President will also sign an executive order today, delaying the July 9 deadline to August 1. So the reciprocal tariff rate, or these new rates that will be provided in this correspondence to these foreign leaders will be going out the door within the next month, or deals will be made, and those countries continue to negotiate with the United States. We’ve seen a lot of positive developments in the right direction, but the administration, the president and his trade team, want to cut the best deals for the American people and the American worker. That’s what they’re focused on.
White House press secretary says critics of flood warnings should be ‘deeply ashamed’
Karoline Leavitt just kicked off the White House briefing for the day, beginning with an attack on those who have questioned whether the National Weather Service was adequately prepared to warn of the deadly flash floods in Texas.
The White House press secretary cited “some members of the media” as well as Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate minority leader who has reportedly called for an investigation from the commerce department inspector general into whether the National Weather Service had enough staff in offices that would have forecast the storms.
“Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning. Here are the facts: in the lead-up to this tragic natural disaster, the National Weather Service did its job despite unprecedented rainfall,” Leavitt said.
She continued:
To any person who has deliberately lied about these facts surrounding this catastrophic event, you should be deeply ashamed. At this time, the administration’s focus will be … on giving the victims in their communities the support they deserve during these recovery efforts in this tragic time. May God bless the great people of Texas, especially the parents who have lost their children. President Trump loves you. We are praying for you, and he will be traveling to see you later this week.
The day so far
Donald Trump has fired a new tariff barrage, this time at Japan and South Korea, which will face 25% levies beginning 1 August unless it inks some kind of deal with Washington. The president broke the news in letters to the countries’ leaders, and has said that more letters will be released today. We’ll let you know if any of those materialize. Meanwhile, in Brussels, European Union ambassadors have been briefed on a new trade framework with the United States that will prevent some – but not all – tariffs.
Here’s what else has been going on today:
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The Trump administration’s “ideological deportation policy” goes on trial today in Massachusetts.
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Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser to Trump, hailed “progress” in tariff negotiations, even as the administration is set to blow its “90 deals in 90 days deadline”.
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Trump is set to sign executive orders in the Oval Office at 4pm today, though the press is not set to attend. After that, he’ll welcome Benjamin Netanyahu back to the White House.
European ambassadors briefed on draft US trade deal
Lisa O’Carroll
EU ambassadors are currently being briefed about the draft framework deal that seems to have been agreed over the weekend with the Trump administration.
It will extend the period of negotiation, avoiding the threatened 50% tariffs on exports, but mean Trump’s blanket 10% tariff will stay.
Ireland’s prime minister says the deal is about creating a “stable space” for further negotiations.
The taoiseach Micheál Martin said such a high level agreement would avoid retaliatory measures and escalation of a trade war.
It “would leave space for further discussions” he said adding it would create “a deal of clarity”.
The prime minister was speaking after a call with European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Monday morning, European time.
A diplomatic source said the deal is “far from ideal”, but it means that the EU can now try and “control the controllable”.
In addition to announcing new tariffs on South Korea and Japan, Donald Trump also threatened both countries with higher levies if they retaliate with their own trade measures.
From his letter to South Korea’s president Lee Jae Myung:
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% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Korea’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!
There’s a certain tone to his letters, one that indicates a deal can be done if both countries accede to his trade demands. From his letter to Lee:
We look forward to working with you as your Trading Partner for many years to come. If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States, and eliminate your Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with The United States of America.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Donald Trump said that starting today, he’ll send “12, maybe 15” letters to major trading partners announcing new tariffs.
We’ve now seen two letters, to the leaders of Japan and South Korea. We’ll let you know what else Trump announces.
Trump announces 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea
Donald Trump has released letters to the leaders of Japan and South Korea, announcing new 25% tariffs on both nations’ exports to the United States and higher levies on goods transshipped through the countries.
The letters appear to be the first that administration officials planned to release today outlining new tariffs on major trading partners.
The letters to Japan’s prime minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean president Lee Jae Myung are very similar. Here’s what Trump wrote to Shigeru and posted on Truth Social:
We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Japan, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Japan a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Japanese products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff. Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country. As you are aware, there will be no Tariff if Japan, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely – In other words, in a matter of weeks.
The White House has made a last-minute addition to its schedule in the form of a briefing set for 1pm by press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt will field questions from reporters in attendance, and we can only guess at what she’ll try to focus their attention on. Expect questions about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit today, if federal job cuts made the disaster in Texas worse and what to make of Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats.
