Trump to Enforce Tariffs on Nations That Don’t Negotiate ‘In Good Faith,’ Says Treasury Chief

U.S. President Donald Trump will proceed with imposing tariffs on countries that fail to engage in “good faith” trade negotiations, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in Sunday interviews.

Bessent did not define what qualifies as “good faith” or when exact tariff changes would be announced. However, he confirmed that countries not meeting the administration’s standards would receive letters specifying their tariff rates—potentially reinstating the higher April 2 levels.

Trump initially announced steep tariffs on April 2 but adjusted rates days later to allow for diplomatic negotiations. On April 9, he temporarily reduced most tariffs to 10% and set Chinese goods at 30%, allowing a 90-day negotiation window.

The White House is focusing on its 18 key trade partners and may adopt regional tariff structures, Bessent said. “We’ll see regional deals—for instance, one rate for Central America, another for parts of Africa,” he noted.

These tariff fluctuations have shaken global markets and disrupted supply chains. Retailers like Walmart have warned of price hikes, attributing them to Trump’s tariff policies. Trump responded by calling on Walmart and China to absorb the costs rather than pass them on to consumers.

Bessent later said Walmart would bear some of the tariff burden, stating he had spoken with CEO Doug McMillon, though Walmart declined to comment publicly.

The ongoing trade tensions are also influencing debates in Congress over revenue and spending, adding more uncertainty to the economic outlook.