The pause on the administration's import levies will expire July 9. European Union negotiators have given up on reaching a trade new agreement by then.

The move marks a major escalation in his push for what he calls “reciprocal” trade and comes just five days ahead of a self-imposed July 9 deadline for countries to strike deals with the US. Trump told reporters that “10 or 12” letters will be sent Friday,

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration could start sending letters to trade partners as early as Friday, setting unilateral tariff rates ahead of the July 9 deadline for negotiations. “We’re probably going to be sending some letters out,