Tariffs deepen global trade uncertainty
US mounting pressure on nations to extract favorable terms, experts say
The United States is increasingly wielding tariffs as a tool to reshape global trade and the geopolitical order, prioritizing an "America first" agenda at the expense of international economic interests, experts say.
US President Donald Trump has sent letters to more than 20 trading partners, notifying them of impending tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 percent, effective from Aug 1.He has also signaled plans to impose blanket tariffs on more than 150 smaller trade partners.
The letters warned that any retaliatory measures would trigger equivalent US countermeasures. However, they also hinted at possible adjustments — if the targeted countries open their domestic markets and eliminate trade barriers.
