Trump to Conclude Negotiations with Tariff Notices to 150 Countries

[Financial News] Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced that he will send a letter to 150 countries with small trade volumes with the U.S., imposing a single tariff of 10% or 15%. 
He also stated that negotiations with Japan are becoming difficult and that a 25% tariff will be imposed.
On the 16th (local time), Yahoo Finance and others reported that President Trump said at the White House that he would notify the tariffs to be imposed by letter before the 1st of next month.
In an interview with Real America's Voice that day, President Trump said regarding these 150 countries, "They will probably be subject to 10% or 15%." In this interview, he gave the impression that he is not interested in negotiations, considering the letter imposing a 30% tariff sent to the EU as if it had been concluded. 
The New York Times (NYT) reported that the EU is intensifying last-minute negotiations and has dispatched Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to the United States.
NYT reported that the EU hopes the U.S. tariff threat will end as a negotiation tactic, but the atmosphere is not favorable. It cited Treasury Secretary Scott Besant's interview, mentioning a letter sent by President Trump to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stating that an agreement had already been made and that Trump would not be interested even if the EU made a better offer.
Regarding Canada, which was warned of a 35% tariff, it was suggested that a decision has not yet been made. 
President Trump also stated that a trade agreement with India is nearing completion.
Meanwhile, regarding Japan, President Trump reiterated that it is becoming difficult to conclude negotiations by the 1st of next month and that a 25% tariff will be imposed as planned. President Trump has often criticized Japan for being reluctant to import American cars and agricultural products. Japan has proposed to the U.S. to increase imports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) and corn to reduce its trade surplus with the U.S.
The Japanese government is poised not to agree to a final settlement if the U.S. does not lower the high tariffs on imported cars.
However, the Trump administration also shows no sign of lowering the 25% tariff on Japanese imports.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant will lead a delegation sent by President Trump to visit Japan this week and attend the World Expo in Osaka on the 19th.
This visit to Japan is not aimed at trade negotiations, but there is also a possibility of meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the 18th, the day before.
Currently, the U.S. has concluded trade agreements with the UK, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Alicia Garcia Herrero, Asia-Pacific economist at French investment bank Natixis, said that given the tariff rates announced by President Trump this time, it seems he has recognized that high tariffs could disrupt trade, and "small countries will receive lower tariffs than initially expected, clearing uncertainty and being positively received."

jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter