By Ben Aris in Berlin Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at the end of last week his country needs to “wean itself from US dependence” in such key areas as security, food and energy. France’s National Assembly also issued a big report that called Europe a US “vassal” and proposed,

President Donald Trump on Monday set a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, as well as new tariff rates on a dozen other countries.

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P resident Donald Trump is set to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, starting August 1st. This move could potentially lead to price increases on a range of products if the costs are passed on to consumers.

President Donald Trump is threatening to impose higher tariffs on Japanese exports to the United States over what he claims is the country’s unwillingness to buy American-grown rice.

America’s biggest trading partners have tried tactics ranging from appeasement to retaliation to avoid higher tariffs. All find themselves faced with similar threats from Washington.

Most nations are still negotiating in hopes of avoiding punitive import taxes. At the same time, they’re looking for trading partners as a way around the United States.

The pause on the biggest of Trump's tariffs won't end this week, but the president continues to pledge steep new duties against major countries.