US leader Donald Trump said on a Monday that he would set a 25% fee on stuff from Japan and South Korea, which shook up world trade talks. He made this move in a letter he sent to the heads of these main friends of the US. It’s the first time he’s acted to change trade deals. The fees, which start on August 1, 2025, are a part of his plan to fix what he sees as “unfair” trade moves. Trump thinks that trade with Japan and South Korea is not even. This has made people worry about trade fights and bad money shifts all over the world.
He first spoke of this on April 2, called “Liberation Day,” when he promised to put fees on many places. First, these fees were put off for 90 days because markets were upset. But now, with July 9, 2025, getting close, Trump has set his plan into motion. The group working with him says these fees won’t “come back to hit us” until August 1, giving lands a bit of time to talk.
Trump’s messages were firm: the fees are meant to fix unbalanced trade. He said that if the other sides fight back, things might get worse. But he still gave a bit of hope, saying he might lower fees if Japan and South Korea change their trade moves. For his part, Japan’s Ishiba stated he “won’t bend easy” in talks.
People have mixed thoughts. Some say it will help US jobs. Others think it’ll make stuff cost more and mess up friendships. Online, people either call it a “smart move” for the US or a “hard hit” to friends, which could mess up how we get things made.
It could really affect tech, car, and tech work, as Japan and South Korea are big in these areas. For instance, names like Toyota and Samsung might have to pay more, making things pricier for everyone. Trump has also said he might add 10% more fees on lands that side with BRICS, claiming they are against the US. This has made folks fear a bigger trade war, just as a pause in US-China trade talks is about to end.
Money man Scott Bessent is hopeful, saying new trade deals could come soon. “We’ve had lots of new offers,” Bessent told CNBC, hinting at talks with many lands. Trade helper Peter Navarro agrees, noting, “Every land we owe money to is talking with us.”
For regular folks, these fees might make things like cars, phones, and home tools cost more. In the US and India, where cheap tech is a big deal, it could hurt what families can buy. Small places that sell goods from afar might also have a hard time. But US makers could get a boost as foreign goods become more costly.
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Data: Fee Impact on Big Jobs
Here is a chart showing how a 25% fee might change costs for big imports from Japan and South Korea, based on trade info from 2024.
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