Trump announces widespread 10% tariffs on "small countries"

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday his intention to impose a sweeping tariff of around 10% on a group of unspecified "small countries ." The measure follows recent tariff threats against larger trading partners.

"We're going to be putting out a letter soon talking about a lot of countries that are much smaller. There won't be any one letter per se. There may be an individual letter . It's going to go very quickly, and the number will also be smaller," Trump said upon arriving at Andrews Air Force Base after participating in a conference on energy and artificial intelligence in Pennsylvania. This announcement comes amid growing trade pressure from Washington, following the 90-day trade truce , initially established on April 9 to negotiate new tariffs, which has been extended until August 1 .

Since the initial deadline, President Trump has sent letters to various countries with which he has not yet reached agreements, warning them of unilateral tariffs if they do not open their markets and eliminate trade barriers. This has been the case with the European Union and Mexico , which have been threatened with tariffs of 30% ; as well as Brazil ( 50% ), Japan , and South Korea ( 25% ), among others.

The new group of countries mentioned by the US president, although not detailed, would include nations with which the United States does not have a large volume of trade, but which, according to the president, are "significant." Trump has expressed satisfaction with the tariffs already decided upon, which will take effect in August. "I'm very happy with the agreements as they stand. They're very sound . They're very simple agreements. It's about whatever percentage it is, and we base it on many factors, including the deficit and others. I think it's a much faster way," the Republican leader concludes, reaffirming his strategy of imposing tariffs as a negotiating tool.