The president says US trade partners are begging for exemptions as even steeper tariffs go into effect Wednesday
President Donald Trump asserted that numerous countries are vying to secure trade agreements with the United States following the implementation of his new tariffs. He claimed foreign leaders are pleading for exemptions to lessen the impact of these levies.
During a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner on Tuesday night, Trump stated that his administration is experiencing “doing very well” in preliminary discussions with nations that were initially hit with a 10% tariff the previous week – and many more facing even steeper duties starting Wednesday.
“I’m telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” Trump said. “They are dying to make a deal: ‘Please, please sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything sir.’”
The administration has previously indicated that approximately 70 countries have requested negotiations to alleviate the effects of the tariffs, as Trump advocates for individualized agreements with each nation. “I call them tailored deals, not off the rack,” he said earlier Tuesday at an executive order signing event at the White House.
The president’s remarks precede his administration’s launch of increased import tariffs, including a significant 104% tariff on Chinese goods. This policy, fully implemented on Wednesday, is a component of Trump’s broader “reciprocal” trade strategy, aimed at compelling countries with substantial trade surpluses to offer more favorable terms to the US.
The White House has stated that the tariffs are designed to rectify long-standing trade imbalances and revitalize domestic manufacturing. Trump maintains that these measures are already proving beneficial to the US economy, asserting that the country is collecting $2 billion daily in tariff revenue.