Karoline Leavitt said President Trump extending the deadline for more tariffs to kick in from July 9 to August 1, in order to continue negotiations, is "an acknowledgment that this administration is doing what is best for the American worker.

America is close to clinching several trade deals ahead of a July 9 deadline when higher tariffs were due to kick in, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

President Trump warned over the weekend that countries choosing to align with the “Anti-American” policies of the Brics group of countries will face an extra 10% tariff. They include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and more recently South Africa. They now include 11 countries that have a relatively low level of economic and industrial development.