U.S. President Donald Trump said tariffs on imports from dozens of trading partners will begin on 1 August 2025 and insisted the deadline will not be pushed back. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that “there has been no change to this date, and there will be no change,” adding that letters notifying foreign governments of the decision were dispatched this week and more would follow. The duties are part of the administration’s “reciprocal tariffs” programme, which aims to match or exceed the levies other countries impose on American goods. According to media reports citing the letters, the measures cover 14 nations and range as high as 40 per cent. Laos and Myanmar would face the steepest rate, while Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and several others are slated for 25 per cent tariffs on all exports to the United States. The August start date reinstates a timeline that was briefly delayed in April, when Washington granted a 90-day pause to allow negotiations after concerns that immediate implementation could disrupt financial markets and raise consumer prices. By ruling out any further reprieve, Trump increases pressure on affected governments to make concessions or prepare for higher costs on shipments to the world’s largest economy. The move risks reigniting trade tensions that had eased during the pause, particularly with key Asian allies such as Japan and South Korea. It also adds a new variable for global supply chains already adjusting to the U.S. 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods that took effect in April. Officials in Seoul and Tokyo have yet to comment publicly on whether they will seek last-minute talks before the August deadline.