President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States will soon set new tariff rates for many countries without further negotiations. He explained that it’s not possible to negotiate with so many countries at once.
Key Points:
Trump said that in the next 2-3 weeks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will send letters to trade partners telling them what tariffs they will have to pay to do business in the U.S.
He admitted that some countries might appeal these tariffs, but suggested most would not get the chance to negotiate.
Background:
Last month on “Liberation Day,” the U.S. imposed new tariffs but paused them after global markets panicked, causing stock prices to fall and interest rates to rise.
Trump had aimed to make 90 trade deals in 90 days but faced difficulties due to the complexity of trade negotiations.
Current Situation:
The U.S. is still in active talks with a few large Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and India.
The previously announced 10% global tariff is still in place, but higher tariffs on other countries were paused earlier.
Economic Impact:
While the economy has remained stable so far, signs of stress are emerging. Walmart recently said it would raise prices due to the impact of tariffs.
Markets are waiting to see how high the new tariffs will be and when they will take effect. Concerns about U.S. creditworthiness remain among international investors.