The US government is to start sending out letters to countries with details of higher US tariff rates that will begin on 1 August, President Donald Trump has said. Between 10 to 12 letters will go out on Friday, with more over the coming days, the president told reporters.

Trump told reporters he would begin sending countries letters setting tariff rates rather than negotiate 170 trade deals worldwide.

Vietnam on Thursday hailed as a breakthrough a long-awaited trade deal with the United States and said its negotiators were coordinating with U.S. counterparts to formalise terms with Washington, Details on the deal announced by U.

President Donald Trump said he had reached a trade deal with Vietnam following weeks of intense diplomacy between the nations and ahead of a deadline next week that would have seen higher tariffs imposed on the country’s imports.