US pushes countries to submit tariff offers

Deadline today for negotiation details

- JARRETT RENSHAW

The Trump administration wants countries to provide their best offer on trade negotiations by today as officials seek to accelerate talks with multiple partners ahead of a self-imposed deadline in just five weeks, according to a draft letter to negotiating partners seen by Reuters.

The draft, from the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), provides a window into how President Donald Trump plans to bring to a close unwieldy negotiations with dozens of countries that kicked off on April 9 when he paused his “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days until July 8 after stock, bond and currency markets revolted over the sweeping nature of the levies.

The document suggests an urgency within the administration to complete deals against its own tight deadline. While officials such as White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett have repeatedly promised that several agreements were nearing completion, so far only one agreement has been reached with a major US trading partner: Britain. Even that limited pact was more akin to a framework for ongoing talks than a final deal.

In the draft, the US is asking countries to list their best proposals in a number of key areas, including tariff and quota offers for purchase of US industrial and agricultural products and plans to remedy any non-tariff barriers.