As Trump’s tariff patience wanes, countries scrambling for deals face hard choice
Trump intends to make good on his threat to drop talks and just set unilateral rates, raising the stakes before his August 1 deadline
US trading partners trying to navigate the final weeks of negotiations before President Donald Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs hit are facing a leader who has made clear he has lost patience with talks.
Even as negotiators from Brussels to New Delhi are racing to find a way out of the punishing levies he has floated, Trump continued to send letters unilaterally setting rates – while still allowing for a little wiggle room.
Early on Saturday, Trump posted letters sent to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, declaring a 30 per cent rate for Mexico and the European Union beginning August 1.
He said Mexico had failed to do enough to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States and complained that the EU’s trade deficit with the US was unfair. He suggested both partners could take steps to mitigate the rates – or he could increase them further if he did not like their responses.
Efforts by those countries and others to find an escape from the punishing levies are expected to intensify next week ahead of a new August 1 deadline for many of the import taxes to kick in.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is heading to Japan, and EU negotiators are focusing their attention on cars and agricultural tariffs in hopes of securing at least a provisional agreement.