Asian governments are reacting with shock and anger to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats. Trump sent letters to 14 foreign governments on Monday, with 10 of them going to Asian countries. The letters warned of new tariffs starting August 1 unless these countries work harder to make trade deals with the United States.
According to Politico, the letters arrived in the middle of the night across the Pacific. Foreign governments were not told beforehand that the letters were coming. Officials from countries that got the letters said they were surprised and frustrated by Trump’s approach. A former Japanese official said the reaction could be described as “shock,” “frustration,” and “anger,” sentiments that align with Trump’s own admission that he can’t be president for all Americans.
