Trump says US finalizing trade deals as tariff deadline delayed

The United States is close to finalizing several trade pacts in coming days and will notify other countries of higher tariff rates by July 9, President Donald J. Trump said on Sunday, with the higher rates set to take effect on Aug. 1.

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Since taking office, Mr. Trump has set off a global trade war that has roiled financial markets and sent policymakers scrambling to protect their economies, through efforts such as deals with the United States and other countries.

In April Mr. Trump unveiled a base tariff rate of 10% on most countries and additional duties ranging up to 50%, although he later delayed the effective date for all but 10% until July 9. The new date offers countries a three-week reprieve.

Mr. Trump, whose remarks to reporters on Sunday came just before his return to Washington from a weekend golfing in New Jersey, had flagged the Aug. 1 date earlier, but it was unclear if all tariffs would increase then.

Asked to clarify, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters the higher tariffs would take effect on Aug. 1, but Mr. Trump was “setting the rates and the deals right now.”

In a posting on his Truth Social website, Mr. Trump later said the US would start delivering tariff letters from 12:00 p.m. ET (1600 GMT) on Monday.

In a separate post, he rolled out a wholly new tariff policy, calling for countries “aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies” of the BRICS developing nations to be charged an extra 10% tariff, with no exceptions to be granted.