‘August 1 Applies to All’: Trump Says Tariff Deadline Stands Firm
So far, five nations — the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan — have agreed to revised trade terms with the United States.
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the August 1 tariff deadline will apply “to all” and that there will be no postponement.
“August 1st stands for everyone. All trade deals take effect on August 1st. Most of the agreements, aside from steel and aluminium—on which we’ve been charging 50% tariffs—I believe that’s true for nearly every country,” Trump said.
The president claimed that the tariff policy—particularly on steel and aluminium—has already generated hundreds of billions of dollars and sparked increased investment within the U.S. manufacturing sector.
“We’ve taken in hundreds of billions just from steel and aluminium alone. You’ve seen the figures. We had a massive inflow of funds in just the past month. It’s coming in fast, and that’s fair,” he said.
Trump further argued that the impact of these tariffs has pushed companies to establish new steel plants, aluminium facilities, artificial intelligence hubs, and car manufacturing units in the U.S. “If they don’t want to pay the tariffs, the simplest option is to build your factory here in the United States.”
Earlier, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reiterated that the U.S. will proceed with its tariff plans on trade partners starting August 1, without any delay or exceptions.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Lutnick emphasized the administration’s unwavering position: “No extensions, no additional grace period. August 1, the tariffs take effect. Customs will begin collecting, and that’s it.”
This move increases the pressure on major U.S. allies and trade partners to conclude trade agreements before the deadline, aligning with the Trump administration’s broader strategy to reshape global trade frameworks that it sees as unfavorable to American industries.
President Trump, currently in Scotland for discussions with European Union officials, remains open to negotiating even after the tariffs take hold, according to Lutnick. However, he stressed that the U.S. sets the rules.
“They’re aiming to reach a deal, and that decision rests with President Trump, who leads this negotiation. We’ve laid out the framework,” he said.
Thus far, five nations — the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan — have finalized updated trade arrangements with Washington, securing agreements ahead of the critical August 1 deadline. Though these new deals include tariffs above the standard 10% base rate implemented in April, they remain below the levels the U.S. had initially threatened for non-compliant nations.
The European Union, however, has yet to conclude a deal and now risks facing a blanket 30% tariff on its exports to the U.S. starting August 1. Trump has stated there’s a “50-50” chance of reaching a resolution with the EU.
Earlier today, President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were slated to meet at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in southwest Scotland. The meeting is viewed as a last-ditch effort to avoid a full-scale transatlantic trade confrontation.
The EU’s negotiation team has been working around the clock to craft an agreement that would preserve a trading relationship valued at an estimated $1.9 trillion annually. However, any finalized pact must be approved by all 27 member nations. EU ambassadors, who are currently in Greenland, were holding discussions on Sunday to review the latest developments.
