Trump gives another country a tariff extension ahead of deadline: Recap
President Trump has made a flurry of deals with US trading partners as his Aug. 1 deadline approaches, including agreements with South Korea and Pakistan and a trade pact with the European Union.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump introduced last-minute stumbling blocks for several nations seeking reprieves on trade before his reciprocal tariffs begin to go into effect just after midnight.
Irked by Canada's support for Palestinian statehood, India's purchases of Russian oil and Brazil's prosecution of its former president, Trump threatened to punish the nations with higher tariffs, regardless of whether the actions directly harm U.S. exports or exacerbate existing trade deficits.
In a Truth Social Post, the U.S. president linked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement that his country would recognize Palestinian statehood to the negotiations with Ottawa to stop a 35% tariff from going into effect at 12:01 am ET on Aug. 1.
"Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh’ Canada!!!" Trump said.
Trump has made a flurry of deals with America's trading partners as his Aug. 1 deadline approaches, including agreements with South Korea and Pakistan and a trade pact with the European Union. Other countries that are currently paying a baseline tariff of 10% and have not entered into a separate arrangement with the United States may see their fees go up.
Here's where Trump's tariffs and trade negotiations stand:
Trump expected to sign executive order Thursday setting new tariffs
Trump will sign an executive order during the afternoon or evening of July 31 setting the new tariff rates for countries around the world, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Trump has already announced several of those rates, ranging from 50% on imports from Brazil to 15% tariffs on goods from several countries including South Korea and the European Union.
In April, Trump imposed a baseline 10% tariff that applied to most countries. Trump has said he is likely to raise the baseline to either 15% or 20% beginning Aug. 1. - Joey Garrison
Countries to receive new tariff rates before midnight, White House says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said countries that have not received notice of their new U.S. reciprocal tariff rates will be alerted by the administration before midnight Aug. 1.
“Tomorrow, Aug. 1, the reciprocal rates will be going into effect,” Leavitt said during a July 31 briefing with reporters.
Trump has pointed to Aug. 1 as the marker for higher reciprocal tariffs on goods from nearly 200 countries across the world to go into effect. Trump has already announced new tariff rates for several countries and reached deals with other nations, including Japan, Vietnam and the European Union, that includes their new tariff rates.
“We’ve sent out 17 letters to countries around the world, and the rest those countries that either do not have a deal or have a letter, they will be hearing from this administration by the business deadline tonight,” Leavitt said. - Joey Garrison
Mexico trade deal extended for 90 days
Trump says he's giving Mexico another 90 days to come to a longer term agreement with the United States to avoid higher tariffs.
After speaking by phone to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, he said in a Truth Social post that he was extending existing tariffs on Mexico for 90 days, and possibly longer, while the countries continued to negotiate.
"The complexities of a Deal with Mexico are somewhat different than other Nations because of both the problems, and assets, of the Border," he said. "We have agreed to extend, for a 90 Day period, the exact same Deal as we had for the last short period of time, namely, that Mexico will continue to pay a 25% Fentanyl Tariff, 25% Tariff on Cars, and 50% Tariff on Steel, Aluminum, and Copper."
Trump said that Mexico also agreed to "immediately terminate" all of its non-tariff barriers, without providing further details on that part of the agreement.
"There will be continued cooperation on the Border as it relates to all aspects of Security, including Drugs, Drug Distribution, and Illegal Immigration into the United States," he said.
Mexico had been facing a 30% tariff on non-exempt goods. - Francesca Chambers
Trump admin defends use of emergency power to impose tariffs in federal court
President Donald Trump's tariffs may be headed for some rocky legal terrain. U.S. appeals court judges indicated during oral arguments on July 31 that they were skeptical the president has the legal authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval.
Department of Justice lawyer Brett Shumate argued in opening remarks that Trump should be able to continue using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose sweeping tariffs. "But IEEPA has rarely been used, hasn't it," a judge immediately interjected.
Shumate said that since its inception in 1977, the statute has frequently been used by the government. "This is the first time IEEPA has been used for tariffs," Shumate acknowledged.
But he said Trump's actions incorporated language that former President Richard Nixon used in 1971 to impose tariffs that were later upheld by the court, and Congress was aware of the case when it passed a law giving the U.S. president emergency powers. - Francesca Chambers/Reuters
Trump cites Bolsonaro prosecution in Brazil tariff hike
In a July 30 executive order hiking tariffs on Brazil to 50%, he cited the nation's prosecution of former Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, as a reason for higher import fees on some goods. The order moved an earlier deadline for the tariffs to go into effect to Aug. 6.
He said that Bolsonaro, who's charged with plotting a coup, had been "politically persecuted." The administration also sanctioned the judge in the case in a separate action on the same day. - Francesca Chambers
India in the crosshairs for Russian oil purchases
Trump blasted India for purchasing Russian oil, which has helped to prolong Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine. He said in a social media post that he'd hit India with a 25% tariff.
He also took aim at the country's participation in the BRICS economic group. The club rivals the Group of Seven economic alliance for advanced economies and includes Russia, Brazil, China and South Africa.
In an overnight post on social media, Trump hit India again — and needled former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
"I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World," Trump wrote. "Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!"
Medvedev had previously issued a sharp warning to Trump over his threats to put steep tariffs on purchasers Russian oil.
"Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with (Trump's) own country," the former Russian president said. - Francesca Chambers
U.S. closes in on a China deal
Trump's administration has continued negotiate with China, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a July 31 interview with CNBC that the United States' believes a deal is close at hand.
"I believe that we have the makings of a deal," Bessent said.
Bessent was expected to update Trump on the status of negotiations later in the day. China faces an Aug. 12 deadline to reach an agreement with the United States.
The tariffs will also face a key legal test this week as the U.S. Court of Appeals hears arguments in a case challenging Trump's authority to tap into emergency powers to impose unilateral tariffs.
"If our Country was not able to protect itself by using TARIFFS AGAINST TARIFFS, WE WOULD BE “DEAD,” WITH NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OR SUCCESS," Trump said on social media ahead of oral arguments. - Francesca Chambers