Over 50 Countries Seek Trade Talks with US Amid Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs, Officials Say

WASHINGTON – More than 50 countries have approached the White House to initiate trade negotiations following US President Donald Trump’s sudden rollout of broad tariffs, according to top administration officials.

Despite last week’s announcement wiping nearly $6 trillion off US stock markets, Trump’s economic team defended the strategy on Sunday, claiming it has given the US significant leverage in global trade.

“He’s created maximum leverage for himself,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press, confirming ongoing talks with dozens of nations, though no countries were named.

The new tariffs—starting with a universal 10% duty on imports and rising up to 50% for select countries—took effect Saturday, with more due Wednesday. Officials suggested these could be temporary, used to strike better bilateral deals.

Early responses from key countries:

• Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te offered zero tariffs as a basis for negotiations, also promising increased investment in the US.

• Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is set to ask Trump for an exemption from a 17% tariff during their upcoming meeting.

• India has chosen not to retaliate against a 26% tariff and is already in talks with the US.

• Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni pledged support for Italian businesses hit by a 20% tariff, especially wine exporters, who already report sales declines.

Back home, economists are raising alarms. JPMorgan cut its full-year US GDP forecast to a 0.3% decline, with unemployment projected to rise from 4.2% to 5.3%.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted the blanket tariff approach was broad—even affecting remote Antarctic territories—saying it aimed to close loopholes that could allow trade circumvention.

Meanwhile, President Trump spent the weekend in Florida, posting golf videos on social media, even as debate swirls over whether the tariff strategy is meant to pressure the Federal Reserve into cutting interest rates. The White House denies this.