U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday began telling trade partners – from powerhouse suppliers like Japan and South Korea to minor players – that sharply higher U.S. tariffs will start August 1, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched earlier this year.

The US plans to impose a 25% tax on products entering the country from South Korea and Japan on 1 August, President Donald Trump has said.He announced the tariffs in a post on social media, sharing letters he said had been sent to leaders of the two countries.