Trump: "Tariffs will be imposed from August 1…No extension"

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

President Trump announced that he would not extend the August 1 tariff imposition deadline.
He emphasized that the tariff schedule is finalized as stated in the letter sent to 14 countries including South Korea and Japan.
Experts said that after a three-month grace period for negotiations failed to produce the desired results, President Trump has now moved to maximize his negotiating power.

Trump Reverses Hint at Extension from the Previous Day

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on the 8th (local time) that he would not postpone the tariff implementation deadline set for August 1. He stated that the schedule specified in the 'tariff letter' sent the previous day to 14 countries including South Korea and Japan is final.

President Trump emphasized via social media on this day, "Based on the letters sent to several countries yesterday, tariffs will begin to be imposed from August 1," and "This date has not changed and will not change going forward." This stance is the opposite of his position a day earlier. The previous day, when asked by reporters whether the tariff imposition date was confirmed as August 1, President Trump said, "I'm firm, but I wouldn't say 100% firm," adding, "If they call and say 'We want to do it another way,' I'd be open to it." He also answered the question, 'Is the letter sent today the final proposal?' with, "I would say it's final, but if they (the negotiating countries) call with another proposal and I like it, then I'll (change it) that way."

Ryan Majerus, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, pointed out, "(After the mutual tariff announcement in April) as three months of negotiation suspension failed to yield the desired results, Trump is now trying to maximize his negotiating power."

Reporter Im Da-yeon allopen@hankyung.com