Key Points Summary โ Trump Pressures Countries
- Trump warns countries to make deals fast or face new U.S. tariffs
- Over 150 nations reportedly want agreements but time is running out
- Treasury and Commerce will soon set tariff rates unilaterally
- Trump says countries will be โtoldโ what theyโll pay to access U.S. market
- Reciprocal tariff pause ends July 8, new rates could exceed 50%
- Only two new trade frameworks completed: UK and China
- Markets jittery as pressure campaign disrupts global trade
Clock Is Ticking on Trade Talks
President Donald Trump says heโs done waiting.
After wrapping his Middle East tour, Trump told global leaders their window to negotiate fair trade deals with the United States is closing fast.
โWe have 150 countries that want to make a deal,โ Trump said Friday in Abu Dhabi. โBut we canโt meet everyone. So Scott and Howard will send letters telling them what theyโll pay.โ
He referred to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who will lead the charge in implementing the next wave of tariffs.
Deals Delayed, Tariffs Incoming
Trump paused his reciprocal tariffs on April 9, giving countries 90 days to negotiate. That deadline now looms.
So far, only two trade deals have materialized: one with the UK, the other with China. Others, including India, Japan, and South Korea, remain in talks.
Trump says that if no deal is reached soon, the U.S. will โset the numberโ and impose tariffs unilaterally.
That means countries may face tariffs as high as 50% unless they act fast.
Trump pressures countries: Trumpโs Warning Is Loud and Clear
โWeโll be very fair,โ Trump claimed. โBut weโre not going to wait forever. You can appeal it, but weโre going to set it.โ
This approach bypasses traditional trade diplomacy and replaces it with economic force.
The result? Foreign governments must race to reach terms or watch costs skyrocket for doing business in the worldโs biggest consumer market.
The Pressure Campaign Ramps Up
Trump previously announced a 10% universal tariff and hinted most countries will face higher rates.
While the UK scored a 10% tariff in its deal, Trump says other countries shouldnโt expect the same treatment.
Fitch Ratings estimates the U.S. currently enforces a 13% average tariff rate, down from last weekโs 23% peak. But thatโs still way above the pre-Trump level of just 2.3%.
And it could go even higher. Trump has said heโll declare โtotal victoryโ if import taxes hit 50% by next year.
Global Markets on Edge
Trumpโs ever-shifting tariff policy has rattled economists and business leaders.
Some say the uncertainty could trigger a recession. Others argue Trumpโs hardline stance is working, forcing other nations to take U.S. demands seriously.
Markets dipped sharply during the initial tariff announcement but have since recovered as negotiators scramble to avoid economic fallout.
Few Deals Finalized, Hundreds Promised
Trump pressures countries and says heโs crafted โ200 deals,โ but only two have been confirmed.
In recent interviews, he promised to unveil more frameworks โin two to three weeks,โ though that deadline keeps shifting.
Trade experts warn that such deals often take years to negotiate. Yet Trump insists he can deliver them in days.
Americans May Pay the Price
Until new agreements are finalized, U.S. consumers will face higher prices.
Trumpโs team argues that itโs a necessary short-term cost to fix decades of unfair trade.
But critics say Americans are getting caught in a global power play.
As the July 8 tariff pause expiration approaches, one thing is clear: Trump is turning up the heat โ and the whole world is sweating.
