US President Donald Trump is expanding his tariff campaign, dispatching a fresh round of formal letters to over a dozen countries, warning them of sharp trade penalties unless new bilateral agreements are reached before August 1.

The letters, published on Trump's Truth Social account on Monday night, reiterated his administration's push for what he calls "balanced" and "fair" trade. Each one outlines country-specific tariffs to be imposed next month and offers the possibility of negotiation if foreign leaders are willing to make concessions.

"Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal," Trump wrote in the form letter shared with multiple governments. "We invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States," he added, "but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE."

Deal pressure

The letters follow the expiration of a 90-day grace period initiated in April, during which Trump pledged to secure deals with key trading partners. While some preliminary agreements have been announced with the UK, China, and Vietnam, most countries remain without finalized terms and now face punitive tariffs as high as 40%.

Among the countries singled out in the latest batch:

• Bangladesh could see a 35% levy on its exports, mainly garments.
• Cambodia faces a 36% duty, down slightly from the 49% announced in April.
• Serbia, Tunisia, and Kazakhstan are each staring down tariffs ranging between 25% and 35%.
• Malaysia, a major electronics exporter, will be hit with 25%.
• South Africa, already reeling from a 30% rate, may face an additional 10% penalty due to its membership in BRICS.

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"If you decide to raise your Tariffs… whatever the number you choose… will be added onto the [tariff] that we charge," Trump warned in the letters.

The move comes as negotiations with many countries stall. Talks with the European Union remain unresolved, with Brussels resisting US demands to loosen tech and agricultural regulations. In South Korea, officials interpreted the letter as an unofficial extension of talks, though progress has been minimal. Meanwhile, Japan, facing a 25% tariff, has yet to secure exemptions for its auto industry and rice exports.

"I'm not sure we're going to make a deal," Trump said about Japan last week. "They're very spoiled."

Read more: Trump threatens steep tariffs as Japan demands final trade deal: FT

Tariffs, threats, letters

For countries not in active negotiations, letters are serving as the primary, and in some cases, only, form of communication from Washington. On that note, several governments have reportedly received tariff notifications addressed to the wrong officials or using outdated titles, prompting diplomatic corrections.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's president, Željka Cvijanović, for instance, was initially misaddressed as "Mr. President" before receiving a revised message.

Trump's messaging also carries a geopolitical edge. On Sunday, he posted a warning on Truth Social that countries aligning with the BRICS group, which includes China, Russia, Iran, and others, will face an automatic 10% surcharge. "There will be no exceptions to this policy," Trump wrote.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both confirmed the administration is now expecting a dozen deals at best, down from the original goal of 90. Bessent stated that nations unwilling to cooperate would simply revert to their initial April tariff levels.

Despite the pressure, Trump insists the door remains open. "If they call up and they say we'd like to do something a different way, we're going to be open to that," he said on Monday. "But essentially that's the way it is right now."

The White House has promised to release additional letters later this week, suggesting more countries may soon join the growing list of US trade targets. With less than a month before tariffs take effect, and only a few deals secured, global markets are bracing for further disruption.