The president’s tariff announcements suggest he has not backed away from his initial strategy, where even smaller trading partners will face tariffs.
President Trump added on Wednesday to his growing list of countries that would face steep tariffs in the coming weeks if they fail to reach trade agreements with the United States, as he threatens to drag nations large and small into his trade war.
On his social media account, the president posted form letters informing countries — including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Moldova, Brunei, Libya, Iraq and Algeria — that they should prepare for double-digit tariff rates. Except for the name of the country and the tariff rate, the letters were identical to those he posted on Monday, which targeted 14 nations.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Trump issued another threat to impose a 50 percent tariff on products from Brazil. His letter implied that the higher rate was partly in response to what Mr. Trump described as a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for attempting a coup.
Later that evening, Mr. Trump escalated his tariff plans further, saying he would begin imposing a 50 percent tariff on imported copper as of Aug. 1. The president said he was taking action because copper — which the United States imports from Chile, Canada and other countries — is crucial for national defense.
The price of U.S. copper futures has soared since Mr. Trump mentioned he was planning a 50 percent tariff during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday.
Brazil and the other trading partners that Mr. Trump targeted Wednesday join a growing list of countries that will face additional tariffs Aug. 1, including Japan and South Korea. The president’s renewed threats against both large and small trading partners suggests that he is hewing to a global tariff strategy he announced in early April that punishes countries broadly for a variety of trading practices and policies he has deemed unfair.
