The US states that «more than 50 countries» ask to negotiate tariffs

Donald Trump’s government said Sunday that more than 50 countries have asked to negotiate to eliminate or reduce tariffs imposed by Washington, conversations, he added, may take months to bear fruit.

AFP

On Saturday a universal import tax of 10%entered vigor in the United States. On Wednesday, import taxes from some countries, such as the members of the European Union (20%) and China (34%), will increase, Trump announced on April 2.

This announcement caused the collapse of markets around the world.

«More than 50 countries have contacted the Government to reduce tariffs and end the manipulation of their currencies,» Treasure Secretary, Scott Besent told the NBC.

«Let’s see if what they have to propose is credible,» the secretary clarified, «because after 20, 30, 40 or 50 years of bad behavior, you can’t start from scratch.»

China immediately responded to taxes to its products with similar measures against the United States. Instead, European leaders intensified their contacts during the weekend before EU’s ministers meet to agree on the block’s response to agree on the block

«The world as we knew him has disappeared,» predicted British prime minister Keir Starmer, given this change in international trade.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, plans to meet Trump in Washington this Monday to discuss, among other issues, the new 17% customs tax that the United States plans to impose on its great Israel ally.

– Little opening –

But the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, warned Sunday in the CBS chain that the new tariffs that enter into force on April 9 will not be subject to possible negotiations.

«There will be no postponement,» Lutnick insisted. «The rules are not balanced and President Trump will fix it.»

«This is not the kind of things that can be negotiated in a few days or a few weeks,» Besent warned, who suggested that tariffs that will enter into force will be at least several months.

Countries that seek a negotiated exit to Trump’s trade war do so because they consider their economies «will suffer much» of the consequences of tariffs, the main economic advisor of the White House, Kevin Hasset, said on Sunday.

The director of the National Economic Council predicted that there will be «an important effect on consumers in the United States.»

Most economists expect, on the other hand, an increase in inflation and a brake of the economy in the United States as a result of tariffs.

Although Hasset acknowledged that there may be a price increase, he considered that Trump’s protectionist measures are a way of defending American workers from unfair competition.

Asked about why Russia was not on the list of countries affected by tariffs, the advisor said Trump wanted to avoid it by the treatment for a possible end of the conflict in Ukraine.

«This does not mean that Russia will be treated very differently to all other countries for a long time,» he added.