Trump Signals End to Trade Talks, Vows to Impose Tariffs Unilaterally Ahead of July 9 Deadline

As the July 9 "tariff deadline" nears, former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated there will be no extension to the negotiation window. In a media interview on Sunday, Trump announced his intention to send letters to hundreds of countries—including Japan—unilaterally notifying them of U.S. tariff rates on imported goods. Using Japan as an example, Trump stated the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on Japanese cars and remarked, “We don’t need to meet; we understand the situation; we have all the data.”

This move signals a shift toward a unilateral tariff strategy, diverging from earlier statements by U.S. officials. While Commerce Secretary Lutnick and National Economic Council Director Hassett had previously suggested progress in negotiations, and Treasury Secretary Bessent hinted at a potential agreement before September 1, Trump's latest remarks contradict these expectations.

Tensions remain high between the U.S. and Japan, particularly over automobile tariffs. Trump criticized the trade imbalance, noting that Japan exports millions of vehicles to the U.S. while purchasing few in return. The tariff on Japanese cars was raised from 2.5% to 27.5% in April, sparking strong objections from Tokyo. Despite efforts by Japan’s chief negotiator Akazawa Yoshio—including in-person meetings and calls with U.S. Commerce officials—no progress has been made. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s prior discussions with Trump also failed to yield a breakthrough. Although Trump suggested Japan could reduce its trade surplus by buying U.S. oil and other goods, no concrete offers were presented.