Global tariffs proposed by Trump receive public announcement, with implementation date pushed back by a week
The trade standoff between the US and its major trade partners, notably the European Union (EU), has escalated further with the announcement of a 15 percent tariff on most goods coming from the EU, India, Brazil, and Canada.
The move, part of a broader shake-up of US trade policy, is expected to raise costs for manufacturers and affect key export sectors. While raw copper is excluded, a 50 percent tariff will apply to many copper-based goods such as pipes, wires, and electrical components from August 7, affecting countries like India and Brazil.
The US President, Donald Trump, has justified the tariffs, citing national security concerns and criticising India for having "among the highest tariffs in the world". India will face a 25 percent tariff on its exports, plus further penalties linked to its purchases of Russian arms and energy.
The EU has responded with a firm stance, with French President Emmanuel Macron promising a determined approach for upcoming talks and urging greater EU unity in confronting US trade pressure. Macron has also criticised the EU's handling of trade talks with Washington and called for a more forceful approach in future negotiations.
Canada, too, has found itself in the crosshairs of US trade tensions. The White House has stated that Canada had failed to "do more to arrest, seize, detain or otherwise intercept ... traffickers, criminals at large, and illicit drugs". Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has irritated Washington by declaring his support for Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly.
In contrast, South Korea has managed to reach a last-minute agreement that keeps tariffs at 15 percent and preserves existing duties on cars, a major Korean export.
Brazil is facing 50 percent tariffs as retaliation for the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The EU, however, has offered some reassurance, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that certain agricultural products would be exempt from the tariffs, although further details were not provided.
As of early August 2025, no new information about agricultural products being exempt from tariffs in the European Union was provided. No specific agricultural products were mentioned as being exempt from the tariffs in the EU either.
The ongoing trade tensions between the US and its major trade partners, especially the EU, India, Brazil, Canada, and South Korea, remain elevated, with a strong focus on China-related trade frictions. However, specific recent tensions involving these other partners are less highlighted in current reports.
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- The trade standoff involving the US, the European Union (EU), India, Brazil, and Canada, initially centered around tariffs, has expanded to include other areas such as politics and general news. [Source]
- A 50 percent tariff on copper-based goods will impact countries like India and Brazil, causing concern for manufacturers and key export sectors. [Source]
- India is facing a 25 percent tariff on its exports and further penalties linked to its purchases of Russian arms and energy, as a result of US trade policy. [Source]
- The EU, while imposing tariffs on certain agricultural products from Brazil, has offered some reassurance to affected countries by exempting certain agricultural products from these tariffs. [Source]
- South Korea, on the other hand, has successfully reached an agreement to keep tariffs at 15 percent and preserve existing duties on cars, a major Korean export, avoiding escalating trade tensions with the US. [Source]
