After imposing heavy tariffs on 14 nations and revealing plans to push import duties on the copper and pharma sector, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered letters to seven more nations.
The countries that came under fresh fire from Donald Trump include the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Iraq, Libya and Sri Lanka.
Donald Trump shared the trade letters on his Truth Social account and they looked similar to 14 letters delivered earlier to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos, Myanmar, Bosnia Herzegovina, Tunisia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia and Thailand.
The announcement was expected as the US President indicated on Tuesday that he already drafted letters for more nations and Wednesday may witness a fresh set of announcements.
The tariff letters came in the backdrop of negotiations the Trump administration is conducting with various countries and even concluded with nations like Vietnam and the United Kingdom.
High-level meetings
President Donald Trump is set to meet with leaders from five African nations on Wednesday, even as concerns grow that his intensifying trade war could spell trouble for developing economies that depend heavily on trade with the US.
As the world’s largest economy tightens its grip on tariffs, countries with emerging markets are watching closely.
A White House official said Trump will host the heads of state from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal for a working lunch and talks centered on boosting business ties and investment opportunities.
This week’s meetings are part of an ongoing attempt by US leaders to counter the growing perception that Washington has been neglecting Africa, particularly as China continues to strengthen its economic foothold across the continent.
Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has slashed foreign aid to African nations and kicked off a tariff war that’s rippled through America’s trade relationships, adding new strain to already delicate ties.
Donald Trump and his trade war
After returning to the White House in 2025, Donald Trump wasted no time shaking up global trade again.
Early in his second term, he hiked tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to a steep 50%, slapped a 25% duty on foreign cars, and most controversially rolled out a blanket 10% tariff on nearly everything the US imports.
He justified the move by invoking emergency powers, calling the new duties “reciprocal tariffs” meant to punish countries he claimed were taking advantage of America through lopsided trade deals and chronic deficits.
The administration used a questionable method to decide who got hit hardest: a formula based on bilateral trade imbalances. That meant even long-time allies and countries with whom the US has a trade surplus ended up facing stiff penalties.
The result? A wave of backlash. China fired back with tariffs of its own, markets whipsawed, and businesses scrambled to adjust to the new reality.
Critics say the tariffs are hurting American consumers more than foreign competitors, raising prices and rattling supply chains. Meanwhile, lawsuits over Trump’s broad use of emergency authority are still working their way through the courts.
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