More tariffs, more tension — President Donald Trump has triggered a sweeping new round of import duties, hitting 69 countries and pressurising major economies. The move comes as he celebrated his excitement on Truth Social late Wednesday about the billions of dollars expected to flow into the U.S.
On Thursday, 7 August, higher tariffs officially took effect as U.S. Customs and Border Protection began collecting the increased duties.
The tariffs, which range from 10% to 50%, are part of Trump’s broader strategy to lower the U.S. trade deficit while seeking to avoid major supply chain disruptions, inflation spikes, and retaliatory measures from trade partners.
Goods already in transit before the midnight deadline can still enter the U.S. under previous, lower tariff rates if they arrive by 5 October, according to a recent CBP advisory.
This tariff plan follows weeks of intense negotiations and speculation. While many imports faced a 10% base duty since April, the rates have now been significantly increased—50% on goods from Brazil, 39% from Switzerland, 35% from Canada, and 25% from India.
Additionally, Trump announced a separate 25% tariff on Indian goods set to begin in 21 days, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil as the justification for this targeted tariff.
New tariffs
Meanwhile President Trump has said he will impose a tariff of about 100% on imports of semiconductors but offered up a big exemption - it will not apply to companies that are manufacturing in the U.S. or have committed to do so.
The move is part of Trump's efforts to bring manufacturing back to the United States, and his remarks on Wednesday were made in tandem with an announcement that Apple, would be investing an additional $100 billion in its home market.
The comments were, however, not a formal tariff announcement, and much remains unclear about how companies and countries around the world will be impacted.
Trump's mention of the proposed 100% rate for chips came in just ahead of U.S. levies of 10% to 50% kicking in on Thursday for many goods from dozens of trading partners. Rates on semiconductors and other key tech goods have been the subject of a U.S. national security probe - the results of which are expected to be announced by mid-August.
Trump's Wednesday remarks produced an immediate flurry of reactions from concerned countries and business lobbies.
South Korea's top trade envoy said on Thursday that major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will not be subject to 100% tariffs, and South Korea will have the most favourable levies on semiconductors under a trade deal between Washington and Seoul.
Samsung and SK Hynix declined to comment.
On the other end of the spectrum, the president of the Philippine semiconductor industry, Dan Lachica, said Trump's plan would be "devastating" for his country.
In Malaysia, which is a big player in chip testing and packaging globally, trade minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz warned parliament his country "will risk losing a major market in the United States if its products become less competitive as a result of the imposition of these tariffs."
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Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps in protest against persistent congestion from heavy truck traffic and tourism.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with a reduced majority compared with previous polls.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
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