Countries who account for 40% of US trade were due to receive letters by midnight Eastern Time, informing them of new rates as high as 50%

With President Donald Trump's dramatic tariff hikes on the cusp of starting, countries around the world scrambled on Thursday to finalize their trade frameworks with the United States, figure out the tax rates their goods might face and prepare for the unknown.

President Donald Trump’s flurry of trade deal announcements are so far proving light on detail — with key aspects still under negotiation, partners giving mixed signals about what they signed up for,