Trump Says New Tariff Rates Will Be Set for More Countries in Coming Weeks, as U.S. Speeds Up Crackdown on Unfair Trade

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the U.S. will begin setting new tariff rates for dozens of trading partners over the next two to three weeks, as part of an effort to accelerate its crackdown on what the administration considers unfair trade practices.

Speaking at a roundtable with business executives in the United Arab Emirates, Trump acknowledged that his administration lacks the capacity to negotiate with every country affected by the sweeping reciprocal tariffs plan introduced earlier this year. As a result, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will begin sending letters to U.S. trading partners, notifying them of the specific tariffs they will face.

“We’ll be very fair,” Trump said. “But it’s not possible to meet the number of people that want to see us. So Scott and Howard will be sending letters out essentially telling people what they’ll be paying to do business in the United States.”

Trump first imposed a 10% baseline tariff on all foreign imports on April 2, alongside significantly higher duties on countries with large trade surpluses with the U.S.—including major economies such as China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and smaller nations like Laos, Botswana, and Fiji. Following a wave of market volatility, the administration later paused the higher tariffs for 90 days to allow space for negotiations.

During this pause, the U.S. secured preliminary agreements with the United Kingdom and China to temporarily lower tariffs. Trump emphasized, however, that the 10% baseline rate will remain the minimum going forward, warning that many countries should expect higher rates if they fail to strike a fair deal.

Trump reiterated that the U.S. cannot hold simultaneous talks with all of its trade partners, claiming that over 150 countries have expressed interest in negotiating. He also revealed that India had offered to lower tariffs on U.S. goods—an assertion the Indian government has not confirmed.

“We have four or five other deals coming immediately,” Trump said. “We have many deals coming down the line. Ultimately, we’re just signing the rest of them in.”

In addition to the broad reciprocal tariff strategy, the administration has also introduced targeted duties on specific sectors, including automobiles, steel, aluminum, and potentially pharmaceuticals. Trump made it clear that his administration is determined to overhaul global trade relationships in favor of what he views as a more balanced and fair approach.