Trump Hints Global Baseline Tariff Likely To Be 15% To 20%: 'I Want To Be Nice'

Last Updated:July 28, 2025, 22:40 IST

Trump's remark comes days before the August 1 deadline that he has set for countries to finalise bilateral trade agreements with Washington

US President Donald Trump with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer in Scotland. (Reuters file)

US President Donald Trump on Monday said his administration will impose a blanket tariff between 15% and 20% on imports to the United States from countries that have not negotiated separate trade agreements.

“For the world, I would say it’ll be somewhere in the 15% to 20% range … I just want to be nice," Trump said in Scotland, alongside United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“I would say in the range of 15% to 20% probably one of those two numbers," he continued, as reported by CNBC.

Trump’s remark comes days before the August 1 deadline that he has set for countries to finalise bilateral trade agreements with Washington. If this 15% to 20% tariff range is imposed by the US, it would be a hefty increase from the 10% baseline tariff Trump announced in April of this year.

The United States has accelerated negotiations with key trading partners as it prepares to impose steeper tariffs starting August 1, targeting dozens of economies with significant trade surpluses.

These tariff hikes stem from a package first announced in April under former President Donald Trump’s directive, introducing a 10 per cent “baseline" levy on most U.S. trade partners. However, the administration has since outlined plans to raise duties further, with new rates exceeding 10 per cent for many nations.

The deadline for these increases — initially set for July 9 — was postponed twice, and is now firmly scheduled for Friday, August 1.

Washington has since expanded the list of countries facing higher tariffs, while simultaneously striking deals to mitigate or cap rates with several partners. Notable agreements have been reached with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

One such agreement, unveiled on Sunday, will see a 15 per cent tariff applied to certain EU exports — significantly lower than the 30 per cent rate Trump originally threatened.

Despite these deals, a host of countries, including South Korea and Taiwan remain in line for higher tariffs, with reciprocal rates set to rise beyond the initial 10 per cent. Brazil, which was not on the original list, is also expected to face increased duties following a special directive from Trump citing its trade imbalance with the U.S.

The upcoming tariff increases — imposed under controversial emergency powers — mark a sharp escalation in U.S. trade policy as the administration pushes for more “reciprocal" treatment in global commerce.

Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates—only on News18. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

London, United Kingdom (UK)

News business Trump Hints Global Baseline Tariff Likely To Be 15% To 20%: 'I Want To Be Nice'