New import tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump will take effect on August 7, rather than the first of the month as initially planned, CNBC reports.

“This should not be read as an extension, but to give [the US] Customs and Border Protection ample time to implement these [tariffs],” a White House official told CNBC-TV18 in an emailed statement.

Earlier, Trump had stated that negotiations with trading partners shall be completed by Friday, August 1. It was assumed that higher tariffs on goods and services from about 70 countries would come into effect in the US on Friday.