Trump Hints at No Trade Deal with Japan by Aug 1 Deadline

US President Donald Trump suggested on July 16 that striking a trade deal with Japan by the August 1 deadline he has set to wrap up bilateral talks will be difficult, and that a tariff of 25 percent will be applied to goods from the Asian country.

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WASHINGTON -

"We're negotiating with them. But I think probably, we will live by the letter with Japan," Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to his recent notification of new tariff rates to trading partners by letter.

The comments were made about a week after he threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods from Japan, effective from August. The country-specific rate under Mr. Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs, which he set on July 7, is up from the 24 percent he unveiled in early April.

Mr. Trump's announcement of the slight increase came as he has ratcheted up pressure on Japan to concede in the ongoing negotiations, often restating his longstanding accusation that the country has been reluctant to import American cars and agricultural products.

Japan was among the more than 20 trading partners to which he sent letters last week, unilaterally informing them of their new tariff rates.