Over 50 countries want to negotiate with Donald Trump on the duties announced by the President of the United States. The 10% tariffs, the lowest, came into effect on Saturday, April 5th. The highest, including the 20% duties adopted against the European Union (and Italy), will be formally introduced from Wednesday, April 9th. In the last 24 hours, conflicting signals have arrived from Washington through various administration officials. Is Trump willing to negotiate or not? Can duties be modified or removed in a short time?
The picture varies depending on the source consulted. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, announced to Abcnews that over 50 nations have called the White House to enter into negotiations. The same message was delivered by Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, to CNN: “Fifty countries are blowing up the White House lines.”
The initiatives, emphasized with emphasis, are not a surprise for Washington: these countries are trying to come forward “because they understand that they are the ones who have to bear the brunt of the tariffs,” says Hassett.
It is not the case to hypothesize a turnaround in a short time. The ‘basic’ duties at 10%, therefore those with the lowest rate, will remain in force “for days and weeks”, echoes the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, in an interview with CBS. When asked specifically, Lutnick initially replies by saying that Trump “will protect companies that invest here.” Pressed again on this point, the Commerce Secretary specifies that the measures “will certainly remain in effect for days and weeks,” adding that the president “must reset global trade.”
Trump, meanwhile, is preparing to address the issue in the first face-to-face with another leader. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington. Duties, in fact, will not be the only item on the agenda. We will talk “about the hostages, the completion of our victory over Gaza and of course the tariff regime that has also been activated on Israel, I hope to be able to help on this issue,” says Netanyahu.
Israel, which receives full military support from Trump, was hit by 17% tariffs. The Israeli premier will see Secretary Lutnick and will hold an expanded meeting with some members of the Trump administration, including the special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
The European Union, awaiting a confrontation with Trump, reiterates its line and its willingness “to engage in negotiations with the United States”, as highlighted by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Von der Leyen expresses her “deep concern” about the duties and “for the damage they cause to all countries, both through their direct and indirect effects, even on the poorest nations in the world.” Recognizing that duties represent “a major turning point for the United States”, von der Leyen still expresses her willingness to negotiate, while clarifying that “the EU is ready to defend its interests through proportionate countermeasures, if necessary”.
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