President Donald Trump sent markets into a tailspin Monday after officially announcing sweeping 25% tariffs on all imports from Japan and South Korea, starting Aug. 1.
The new tariffs apply to all goods from the two Asian economies and are in addition to any existing sector-specific duties.
The new 25% tariffs follow earlier duties set on April 2 — 24% for Japan and 25% for South Korea — after the U.S. claimed trade barriers and currency practices raised effective rates to 46% and 50%, respectively. The hike comes after a 90-day negotiation window, announced April 9, which expired without deals.
In official letters sent to both governments, Trump said the tariffs are necessary to correct “unsustainable trade deficits” caused by “years of tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers.” He added that any goods transshipped to evade the duties will be charged the higher rate.
Trump emphasized the measure was moderate, saying the 25% rate is “far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity.” He also invited Japanese and South Korean firms to move production to the U.S., promising quick and …