Trump’s Trade Letter Campaign Begins Monday Amid Diplomatic Scramble

President Trump announced that his administration would begin sending tariff notification letters to trading partners starting Monday at noon ET, marking the beginning of a new phase in his trade strategy. The letters will outline new tariff rates for countries that haven’t reached bilateral agreements with the United States.
The notification process represents a shift from the blanket 90-day pause that was set to expire July 9th, allowing for more targeted approaches to different trading relationships. Trump indicated that approximately 12-15 major partners would receive letters, though some may receive negotiated deals instead.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that while letters would be sent immediately, the actual tariff implementation would occur August 1st. This three-week delay provides additional time for last-minute negotiations while maintaining pressure on countries to reach favorable agreements.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that several major trade announcements could emerge in the coming days, noting particular progress in European Union negotiations. The administration also plans to notify approximately 100 smaller countries about higher tariff rates, though these represent relatively minor trade volumes.