President Trump Outlines Reciprocal Tariff Rates For Mexico And Other Countries
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that said certain tariff rates that were initially set to expire on July 9 would instead will expire Aug. 1, 2025. That decision did not stop President Trump from sending tariff letters to several countries informing them of what their respective countries’ new reciprocal tariff rates will be on Aug. 1.
For example, as Reuters reported, President Donald Trump has pledged to impose a 30 percent tariff on imports from Mexico starting on Aug. 1, 2025 if his administration cannot reach a trade deal with that country’s government. The new tariff rate would be “separate from all sectoral tariffs,” the president said, which means the 50 percent Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and the 25 percent tariff on auto imports will remain in place as well.
President Trump announced the potential tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that were posted on social media. As Supply Chain Dive noted, in March 2025 the Trump administration imposed 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico unless they qualify for special treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The latest letter to Mexico “does not clarify whether the USMCA exemption will continue under the new tariff rate, nor whether the 35 percent duty will replace the original 25 percent levy.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was certain her government could reach an agreement with U.S. negotiators. Still, she advised, “We’re clear on what we can work with the United States government on, and we’re clear on what we can’t … And there’s something that’s never negotiable: the sovereignty of our country.”
In related news: President Trump also sent trade letters to several other countries as well, including Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. Politico reported that White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said the 50 percent tariffs on Brazil are not necessary because of a trade deficit, but rather because of the country’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. President Trump also has ordered the U.S. Trade Representative to open a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s “attacks on the digital trade activities of American companies” and other unfair trade practices. This investigation could result in additional tariffs. President Trump does not plan to stop with these countries. In fact, he said he plans to set tariffs for 150 countries starting Aug. 1.
The National Association of Manufacturers has compiled a list of countries that have received tariff letters. Track all Trump administration-imposed tariffs, including the blanket tariffs on countries, at this link.