August 1, 2025 Hour: 9:13 am
New Tariff Rates Imposed by the U.S. Affecting 69 Countries
On August 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order modifying tariff rates for 69 countries, which has sparked significant controversy and criticism domestically regarding his administration’s handling of trade deals. The new ad valorem duties will see most rates set between 10 percent and 40 percent and are set to take effect within a week of the order, with specific logistical exceptions, reports 24brussels.
Trump asserted that many trading partners had failed to negotiate terms satisfactory to the U.S. or align with it on key economic and national security issues. “There are also some trading partners that have failed to engage in negotiations with the United States or to take adequate steps to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters,” he stated.
The executive order also indicates that certain countries, which are nearing the conclusion of trade and security agreements with the U.S., will be exempt from these tariffs until finalization. Goods from trading partners not listed in the executive order will face the baseline 10 percent tariff, unless stated otherwise.
The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with other senior officials, will publish a semi-annual list detailing countries engaging in circumvention schemes of the tariffs, influencing public procurement and national security reviews.
Additionally, the order empowers major government agencies to enact necessary actions through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to accomplish this executive order in compliance with existing laws.
In recent days, Trump has reached trade agreements with several nations including the European Union, Britain, Japan, and South Korea, while imposing unilateral tariffs on others, such as India and Brazil. Nevertheless, his trade policies have incurred substantial backlash, including criticism from Senate Democrats.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced Trump’s approach, labeling it as “all talk, no substance,” and arguing that it unfairly burdens American consumers. He characterized the tariffs as a “trade war on the American people,” expressing concern over the resultant chaos and uncertainty in trade policy.
Senator Tim Kaine indicated plans to introduce legislation that would challenge the newly announced tariff on Brazil, asserting that it diverges from traditional trade surplus principles and is propelled by personal motivations. Meanwhile, Senator Ron Wyden expressed doubts about the integrity of Trump’s tariff impositions, describing them as a “recipe for corruption.”
Amid ongoing litigations against the administration’s use of emergency powers for tariff implementation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit expressed skepticism toward the Trump administration’s justification for its global tariff framework, particularly regarding the determination of trade deficits as an extraordinary threat.
As the situation develops, key stakeholders both domestically and internationally remain vigilant regarding the implications of these new tariff policies on the global economic landscape.
