More than 50 nations affected by President Donald Trump’s new tariff policy have approached the administration to initiate trade discussions, according to senior officials speaking on Sunday. The wide-reaching import taxes, which have unsettled global markets and sparked fears of economic downturn, are scheduled to take effect this Wednesday, ushering in a period of unpredictability in international trade.
Israel, one of America’s closest allies, is among the countries caught in the crossfire of these new tariffs and is facing a 17% rate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to address the issue directly with Trump during his visit to Washington on Monday. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that tariffs would be among several topics covered in a joint press briefing, alongside ongoing conflict in Gaza and regional security.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that there would be no delay in implementing the new measures. “The tariffs are coming. Of course they are,” he stated firmly. Lutnick explained that the administration’s goal is to recalibrate global trade dynamics, though he only committed to the tariffs remaining in place “for days and weeks.”
The policy, first announced on April 2, marks the fulfillment of one of Trump’s core campaign promises, enacted unilaterally without congressional approval. It reflects Trump’s long-standing disdain for international trade deals he believes disadvantage the U.S., and it signals his willingness to accept short-term financial discomfort in the name of economic reformation. “WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won’t be easy,” the president wrote online over the weekend as he played golf in Florida.
Trump’s economic aides were deployed across media outlets Sunday to make the case for the tariffs and calm growing unease. “There doesn’t have to be a recession. Who knows how the market is going to react in a day, in a week?” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “What we are looking at is building the long-term economic fundamentals for prosperity.”
The scope of the tariffs has hit both adversaries and allies, leaving foreign governments grappling with how to respond. Some have already announced retaliatory actions, while others are signaling a willingness to negotiate. “There is concern, and there’s concern across the country. People are watching the markets,” admitted Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate. “There’ll be a discussion in the Senate. We’ll see which way the discussion goes.”
Vietnam, a key U.S. trading partner in textiles, has also reached out to the administration. Trump revealed that during a recent phone conversation, the country’s leader expressed interest in reaching a deal. “Wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S.,” Trump said.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are weighing their response. Although many Republicans have traditionally backed free trade, some are now pushing for a legislative check on executive tariff authority. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon announced plans to introduce a bill in the House requiring congressional approval for any future tariff actions. “We gave some of that power to the executive branch. I think, in hindsight, that was a mistake,” Bacon said, while noting that passing the measure could prove difficult unless economic indicators worsen.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett pointed to the wide interest in negotiations as proof the policy is having its intended effect. “Angry and retaliating,” he acknowledged of other nations, but added, “by the way, coming to the table.” He cited information from the U.S. Trade Representative indicating that over 50 countries had expressed a desire to begin trade talks.
Scott Bessent emphasized the complexity of the negotiations ahead. “The kind of thing you can’t negotiate away in days or weeks,” he said. The U.S., he noted, must assess “what the countries offer and whether it’s believable.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s point man for government cost-efficiency, Elon Musk, finally weighed in at a conference in Italy. Though previously quiet on the tariff issue, Musk called for a mutual dismantling of trade barriers. He said he’d like to see the U.S. and Europe transition to “a zero-tariff situation.” The remarks drew criticism from Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, who pushed back. “Elon, when he is on his DOGE lane, is great. But we understand what’s going on here. We just have to understand. Elon sells cars,” Navarro said. “He’s simply protecting his own interest as any business person would do.”
Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers also raised concerns about the administration’s strategy. If the U.S. intends to simultaneously encourage domestic manufacturing and eliminate tariffs through deals, he warned, that contradiction could prove counterproductive. “If it’s a permanent revenue source and trying to get businesses to relocate to the United States, then we’re going to have these tariffs permanently. So the president can’t have it both ways,” Summers said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced her disapproval of the U.S. tariffs but signaled her willingness to respond constructively. “Ready to deploy all the tools — negotiating and economic — necessary to support our businesses and our sectors that may be penalized,” she said.
{Matzav.com}