Beginning August 1, the United States will implement a blanket 25% tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea, President Donald Trump announced on Monday.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump shared screenshots of letters ostensibly addressed to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, outlining the newly established tariff rates.
Both of the letters emphasize that the 25% tariffs are distinct from additional sector-specific duties applied to selected product categories.
Furthermore, the letters state, “Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.” This transshipping is understood to mean rerouting goods through a third country before their final destination in the U.S. to avoid tariffs.
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