More than 50 nations have reportedly begun trade talks with the United States after President Donald Trump announced a new round of sweeping tariffs. According to top Trump officials, the U.S. is now in a stronger position in global trade negotiations. These statements came just days after the tariffs caused U.S. stocks to lose nearly $6 trillion in value.
Trump’s economic team, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, defended the tariffs during major talk shows on Sunday. “He’s created maximum leverage for himself,” Bessent said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’. The administration says the move is strategic, not reckless, and that it opens doors for better trade agreements with several countries.
Officials refused to name specific nations involved in the trade talks but emphasized that the response to the tariffs has given the U.S. “better negotiation power.” This keyword—better negotiation power—is being pushed as the main justification for the tariffs, despite widespread criticism and the stock market crash that followed.
Countries Push for Better Deals
The Trump administration insists that the tariffs are already producing results. Countries like Taiwan, Israel, India, and Italy have shown interest in reaching better trade deals with the U.S. Taiwan’s President offered zero tariffs in exchange for talks, while Italy’s Prime Minister promised to shield local businesses from EU tariff backlash.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he plans to negotiate a reprieve from the 17% tariff placed on their goods. India also expressed readiness for a deal rather than retaliate against the 26% tariff. Trump’s move may look drastic, but his officials believe the outcome will be better for the U.S. economy in the long run.
Trump has introduced higher reciprocal tariffs between 11% and 50% on several countries, effective Wednesday. Despite criticism, his administration says this tough stance forces countries to offer better trade conditions rather than retaliate. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained, “We can’t let any part of the world be used to bypass U.S. tariffs.”
Is the U.S. Economy Getting Better or Worse?
Well, some persona feel that the tariffs may not lead to better economic growth. JPMorgan economists predict a 0.3% decline in the U.S. GDP for the full year, down from a previous 1.3% growth estimate. They also forecast the unemployment rate will rise from 4.2% to 5.3%. This challenges the administration’s claim that the economy will be better off despite the market losses.
The Trump administration, however, says there is no strategy to crash the market. Kevin Hassett, White House economic adviser, denied any political motive to pressure the Federal Reserve into cutting interest rates. “There will be no political coercion,” he insisted.
A Truth Social video shared by Trump himself suggested the tariffs were meant to shake the stock market, creating room for negotiation. But officials now say the intention was not destruction—it was to get better deals.
Will Tariffs Bring Better Results?
While over 50 nations have opened trade talks, questions remain: will these talks result in better trade outcomes for Americans? Can the U.S. recover from the $10 trillion market loss since February? Will job numbers stay strong?
The Trump administration believes this gamble will pay off. “We believe in this strategy,” said Lutnick. “It’s not just about tariffs. It’s about better terms, better partnerships, and better results for the American people.”
