President Donald Trump revealed that his administration will begin unilaterally determining tariff rates for countries doing business with the United States within the next few weeks. Speaking during a business gathering in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, Trump said the move stems from the government’s limited ability to negotiate individual agreements with all interested nations.
According to the president, both Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will oversee the communication process, sending out notices to foreign governments outlining their tariff obligations. “They’ll be sending letters out essentially telling people” what “they’ll be paying to do business in the United States,” Trump stated, reported Bloomberg.
He also noted the overwhelming global interest in trade discussions. “I think we’re going to be very fair. But it’s not possible to meet the number of people that want to see us,” he said, emphasising that around “150 countries… want to make a deal.” However, he did not specify which nations would be contacted or how many letters would be issued.
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Shift Away from Negotiations as Time Runs Short
The latest remarks indicate a strategic pivot from the administration. Although Trump had initially imposed broader tariffs on April 2, a 90-day delay was later announced to calm investor concerns and allow space for diplomatic outreach. But in recent weeks, he has signaled that the US may abandon the negotiation route altogether in favour of predetermined trade conditions.
The administration has acknowledged that only a limited number of trade discussions—estimated at over a dozen—can be managed at once, given the current bandwidth. “Reciprocal tariffs,” as the president refers to them, would thus be implemented without back-and-forth dialogue in most cases.
As part of this evolving strategy, the president mentioned ongoing talks with major economies such as Japan, South Korea, India, and the European Union. Additionally, a temporary tariff truce with China has been arranged, and a framework agreement was recently concluded with the UK.
Trump also highlighted New Delhi’s apparent interest in reducing tariffs on American goods. “We have four or five other deals coming immediately,” he said on May 9. “We have many deals coming down the line. Ultimately, we’re just signing the rest of them in.”
As of now, there has been no confirmation from the Indian government regarding any such tariff offer. Meanwhile, the White House and the Commerce Department have not issued official statements in response to Trump’s latest announcement. Tariffs, which are collected at the border by US Customs and Border Protection, are often passed on to American consumers in the form of higher prices.
