The Trump Trade War Is Just Getting Started

The president signed an executive order placing tariffs on many countries, set to go in effect in seven days, but there’s still a long way to go on reshaping the U.S. trade agenda.

Trump
Evan Vucci/AP

President Donald Trump’s Aug. 1 trade-agreement deadline is here, and despite early attempts to speed-run “90 Deals in 90 Days,” agreements have only been reached with eight countries and the European Union in over 100 days. Tariffs for many countries will go into effect in seven days, according to an executive order signed Thursday night, hours before the deadline.

The executive order sets a baseline tariff rate of 10%, with steeper tariffs scheduled for a number of trading partners — some as high as 40%.

Though the Trump administration has been insistent on the Aug. 1 deadline, negotiations with other countries, like Mexico, will continue.