Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 1, 2025, implementing substantial new tariff rates on imports originating from 68 countries and the European Union. These measures are slated to take effect precisely seven days following the signing.
The directive establishes a baseline tariff of 10 percent on a wide array of imported goods. However, the order also mandates higher surcharges for nations identified as having trade surpluses with the United States. This strategic adjustment marks a significant escalation in tariff levels compared to previous rates.
Under the new executive order, Canada will experience a 35 percent tax on its imports into the U.S., an increase from the previously applied 25 percent rate. Brazil faces a particularly substantial 50 percent tariff on the majority of its goods. This heightened rate for Brazil is reportedly linked to the nation’s regulatory actions concerning U.S. social media companies and the ongoing prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Further specific tariff rates detailed in the order include a 25 percent duty on goods from India, a 20 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, and a 39 percent tariff affecting goods from Switzerland. Additionally, a 10 percent blanket tariff has been introduced, impacting numerous other countries not specifically itemized.
These sweeping tariff impositions follow a series of trade framework agreements that the administration had previously negotiated with key economies. These included pacts with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The stated intention behind these prior deals was to mitigate the potential threat of even more severe tariff escalations.
The economic ramifications of these new tariffs are already being anticipated by major corporations. Ford Motor Co., for instance, has projected a significant financial impact, estimating a net $2 billion reduction in its earnings for the current year, directly attributable to the tariff measures.
In terms of revenue collection, the U.S. Treasury reported that the United States had amassed $87 billion from tariffs during the first half of 2025. This figure notably surpasses the total amount collected from tariffs throughout the entirety of 2024, underscoring the increased reliance on and yield from import duties.
