Trump Hits Japan & South Korea with 25% Tariffs Starting August 1

On July 7, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced unilateral 25% tariffs on all imports from Japan and South Korea, effective August 1, emphasizing it as retaliation for “unfair” trade deficits. Notifications were sent via letters posted on his platform, Truth Social, warning that any retaliatory tariffs from those countries would trigger additional U.S. duties  . The announcement rattled global markets, with Wall Street indexes falling amid investor concerns over escalating trade tensions