Trump’s Tariff Take‑off: The United States Starts Sending Out the New “Letter of Attack” to Foreign Governments
On Friday, July 4, President Donald Trump rolled out a brand‑new trade plan that’s likely to send shockwaves through overseas factories and neck‑deep supply chains. Instead of the old “go‑one‑by‑one” style of trade talks, the US will flash a catalog of tariff rates to 170+ countries in a tidy bundle of letters.
Why the Change?
- Negotiating with a wall (hundreds) of countries is a logistical nightmare.
- Trump’s office deemed a simple, reciprocal tariff set far easier to shuffle and manage.
- “We’re making it clear and straightforward for everyone.” – the President, in his own words.
What the Letters Say
Each batch will contain 10 countries—think “Secretary of State team‑up” style. Most of those on the list will receive tariffs ranging between 20 % and 30 %. If you’re part of the “high‑impact” group, you’ll see the prices rise to 40‑50 %.
The new format follows the wild wave that started on April 2, when Trump announced 10–50 % tariffs for imports. Following that, he temporarily cut things to 10 % to allow time for negotiations until July 9.
Who’s Already Played Along?
- Britain jumped on the 10 % bandwagon and secured oil‑cheap concessions for cars and aircraft engines.
- Most others, including some countries that had been on the 10 % band, are still holding out—no formal talks have taken place.
Inside the Trade‑Talk Tension
Mark McCarthy – The Supply‑Chain Straight‑Up
“Tariffs can turn the global economy into a giant roller‑coaster. With unstable rates, companies pause IT spending like they’re waiting for the right moment to jump in a plane. Are we doing the right thing? Let’s keep it simple, focus on the tech that pays off fast.”
Mark highlights that Accounts Payable (AP) automation is a lifesaver: moving from a ten‑day average processing to under four days means suppliers get paid on time, even when their own cash flows are shaky.
Michael Joseph – Why Tariffs Are a Breeding Ground for Bad Guys
“When tariffs differ wildly, ship‑jacking is easy. Criminals can manipulate invoices, fake country of origin, or reroute stuff through third parties to hide the real source. That’s basically trade‑based money laundering. It can kill us all biologically, with a $600B annual hit.”
New Deal on Tesla – Vietnam’s 20 % Cut
Under a fresh deal, the US slashed Vietnam’s tariff from 46 % down to a locking‑in 20 %. As a trade‑off, the U.S. fries a bundle of American goods with duty‑free access on a few product categories.
Bottom Line
Trump’s proposal is a stop‑gap, aiming to bring stability and transparency to a chaotic trade world. For many, it means stop dragging the negotiation table around forever and instead get an exact figure right on paper. We just hope that the “letter of attack” lands in the right hands and doesn’t become a game of “Who’s the most aggressive?”
