U.S. Threatens to Restore Higher Tariffs if Trade Deals Fail
The U.S. administration has warned it will reinstate higher "reciprocal" tariffs if trade negotiations with key partners collapse. Scott Bessent, speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, emphasized that 18 significant trading partners are under scrutiny. While no specific timeline was provided, Bessent indicated tariffs could swiftly revert to April 2 levels—a date President TRUMP dubbed "Liberation Day"—should talks stall.
Regional agreements may emerge as a solution, with potential unified rates for areas like Central America or parts of Africa. Smaller bilateral deals could adopt fixed tariff figures. The 90-day negotiation window began after the U.S. temporarily paused sweeping tariffs initially imposed in April.