President Donald Trump on 7 July signed an executive order pushing back the effective date of his planned “reciprocal” tariffs to 1 August 2025, replacing a 9 July deadline that had loomed over U.S. trading partners. The White House said the move provides additional time for negotiations aimed at averting steep duties on a wide range of imported goods. Briefing reporters after the order was issued, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the extension was intended to secure “better deals for American workers.” Asked whether the new date was negotiable, Trump replied the deadline was “firm but not 100 percent firm,” signalling he could adjust the timetable if foreign governments offered acceptable concessions. The next day, the president hardened his stance. In a Truth Social post on 8 July, Trump wrote that “tariffs will start being paid on August 1, 2025… No extensions will be granted,” adding that letters had been sent—and would continue to be sent—to governments worldwide outlining the new schedule. The message, which followed similar warnings delivered to Japan, South Korea and the European Union, erased any remaining ambiguity about the timetable. The rapid shift—from delaying the tariffs to declaring the new date immutable—adds fresh uncertainty to global trade negotiations. While the White House has not detailed every country’s prospective duty, letters released this week preview levies of 25 percent or more on imports from several U.S. partners if bilateral agreements are not reached by August. Economists warn the back-and-forth could unsettle corporate planning and consumer prices even before the duties take effect.