Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs are scheduled to go into effect on August 1 after a 90-day delay—just as American families begin back-to-school shopping—and could hike up the cost of consumer goods imported from other countries.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he will not go below a 15% rate as he sets his “reciprocal” tariffs on US trading partners, a sign that the floor for these increased levies is rising. This latest pronouncement adds another layer of complexity to the administration’s chaotic trade war,

The comments come amid a flurry of trade deal activity, with the Trump administration accelerating its push for bilateral deals ahead of an August 1 deadline tied to its latest round of global tariff reviews.