The administration of President Donald Trump wants to reach 90 trade agreements in 90 days, but the challenges to quickly resolve the president’s trade war are already evident.
The Chief of Commerce of the European Union, Maros Sefcovic, will be located on Monday among the first foreign trade officials to come to Washington for urgent negotiations about the pronounced tariffs Trump announced on April 2. The block is among the largest commercials in the United States.
But when Sefcovic arrives, Trump’s main feature negotiator, Treasury secretary, Scott Besent, will be in Buenos Aires to show support for Argentina’s economic reforms instead of in Washington, even thought Argentina represents only $ 16.3 billion.
Besent’s absence on Monday highlights doubts among trade experts about how effectively the administration can manage so many simultaneous negotiations and the general perspectives to reach 90 agreements in 90 days.
“Making these decisions will take some serious negotiations,” said Wendy Cutler, a former main representative negotiating of the US trade of the US Institute of Politics. “There is no way of duration of this period, we are making an integral year with any of these countries.”
The White House commercial advisor, Peter Navarro, responded at Fox Business Network on Friday that Besent, the United States commercial representative, Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could achieve work.
“So let’s execute 90 offers in 90 days. It’s possible,” he said.
Ultimately, Trump, “the boss, will be the main negotiator. Nothing is done without him looking at him very carefully,” Navarro said.
Trump began the 90 -day countdual account clock this week when he stopped the implementation of his highest rates for many field nights after the financial markets entered into tail on the fears of recession and inflation, among other factors. He said that the 90 -day break would allow countries to reach bilateral agreements with the United States.
Giving the trust of financial markets is another duration of the critical objective in the 90 days. Investors sold the United States Treasury debt this week, increasing interest rates and sending the lowest dollar in the midst of fears of a recession of the United States and a resurgent inflation. Gold, a shelter for investors in times of crisis, reached a record.
Cutler said this agitation would press the Trump team for some fast victories.
“The responsibility will be in them to demonstrate that agreements with countries can quickly conclude and instill some confidence in the market and with other commercial partners that there is a disaster here,” he said.
‘Huge task’
The growing friction with China, which did not receive a postponement of the new US tariffs and the counter-aroncels imposed in the same extent, added to the gloom this week.
Getting to the commercial agreements that satisfy Trump and the financial markets is a “huge task,” said Cutler.
Instead, Trump’s team will have to prioritize key countries and extend the 90 -day break for others, he said.
Even the smallest of Trump’s first period commercial agreements, reviewing the automotive and steel provisions of the Free Trade Agreement in South Korea.
But Greer, the Ustr, said: “We can reach a point where the president can close these agreements. He can negotiate, and if there is a good agreement, he can praise him, and if not, then he will have the rate.”
The logistics of coordinating 90 negotiation sets is only an obstacle to the finely stretched administration.
There have been many key positions and officials who are often occupied with other tasks, diplomats said, such as treasure officials that on Friday with the Ucrine mineral agreement.
Greer told Fox News that his 200 -people staff was “working 24 hours”, since the proposals were exchanged round with foreign counterparts.
The Treasury only has another superior official confirmed by the Senate, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Michael Faulkender. Trump has not even nominated anyone for the key position of Undersecretary for International Affairs, and a career official is serving in the capacity to act.
Ustr, also, depends on career personnel, with several key attached positions that require confirmation of the Senate.
Another factor of complication is uncertainty about US positions in commercial matters, added a second diplomatic source, saying that the main Trump commercial advisors had their own points of view.
Some countries, including Britain, Australia and others, have discussed trade with the administration since the inauguration of Trump in January, with few results.
“It is not that there is a sheet of paper with firm conversation points that are changing hands,” said a diplomatic source. “It is a process. And I would say that he uses the term ‘conversations’, no’ negotiations.” ”
Posted on April 12, 2025