By Jeff Mason, Bart H. Meijer and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday began telling trade partners - from powerhouse suppliers like Japan and South Korea to minor players - that sharply higher U.

President Trump announced 25% duties on both South Korea and Japan. The new rates — which aren’t scheduled to take effect until Aug. 1 — track closely with the rates the president first announced on "Liberation Day" in April.

The slide started after Trump posted letters on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he says he sent to Japanese and Korean officials threatening them with 25% tariffs on goods being imported to the U.S. beginning Aug. 1. The countries can still reach a deal with his administration before then that could avoid those rates.