Trump to extend key tariff deadline to Aug. 1 as he threatens new duties of up to 40% on certain countries

The trade war chaos that engulfed the early months of President Donald Trump’s second term looked set to return Monday as he threatened two major U.S. trading partners with higher duties — while a key negotiating deadline was pushed back.

The trade war chaos that engulfed the early months of President Donald Trump’s second term looked set to return Monday as he threatened two major U.S. trading partners with higher duties — while a key negotiating deadline was pushed back.

Shortly after noon Monday, Trump published two letters addressed to Japan and South Korea threatening them with 25% duties, with higher ones for items deemed to have been transshipped through their countries.

President Donald Trump returns to the White House from a Fourth of July weekend in Bedminster, N.J., on Sunday.Tasos Katopodis / Getty ImagesTransshipping refers to offloading goods from one mode of transportation and reloading onto another. A 25% duty was essentially the level Trump announced for those two countries during his shock “Liberation Day” speech on April 2.

Later Monday afternoon, he posted letters threatening duties of as much as 40% on goods from Laos and Myanmar, along with ones of 30% for goods from South Africa and 25% for ones from Malaysia and Kazakhstan.

Trump would seek to impose the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. His ability to do so remains but is under court review.