[CTC] US pushes countries for best offers by Wednesday as tariff deadline looms

[Arthur Stamoulis]

https://www.reuters.com/business/us-pushes-countries-best-offers-by-wednesday-tariff-deadline-looms-2025-06-02/

Exclusive: US pushes countries for best offers by Wednesday as tariff
deadline looms
By Jarrett Renshaw <https://www.reuters.com/authors/jarrett-renshaw/>
June 3, 20251:54 AM EDT

*Summary*
• Trump administration wants countries to detail tariff rates, potential US
investments
• Trade group welcomes move to accelerate trade talks
• USTR draft letter reveals urgency to finalize deals with trading partners
• Court ruling challenges legality of Trump's sweeping tariff policies

June 2 (Reuters) - The Trump administration wants countries to provide
their best offer on trade negotiations by Wednesday as officials seek to
accelerate talks with multiple partners ahead of a self-imposed deadline in
just five weeks, according to a draft letter to negotiating partners seen
by Reuters.
The draft, from the office of the United States Trade Representative,
provides a window into how President Donald Trump
<https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/> plans to bring to a close
unwieldy negotiations with dozens of countries that kicked off on April 9
when he paused his "Liberation Day" tariffs for 90 days
<https://www.reuters.com/world/trumps-latest-tariffs-loom-set-deepen-global-trade-war-2025-04-09/>
until
July 8 after stock, bond and currency markets revolted over the sweeping
nature of the levies.

The document suggests an urgency within the administration to complete
deals against its own tight deadline. While officials such as White House
economic adviser Kevin Hassett have repeatedly promised that several
agreements were nearing completion, so far only one agreement has been
reached with a major U.S. trading partner: Britain. Even that limited pact
<https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-britain-expected-announce-tariff-deal-thursday-2025-05-08/>
was
more akin to a framework for ongoing talks than a final deal.
In the draft, the U.S. is asking countries to list their best proposals in
a number of key areas, including tariff and quota offers for purchase of
U.S. industrial and agricultural products and plans to remedy any
non-tariff barriers.

Other requested items include any commitments on digital trade and economic
security, along with country-specific commitments, according to the letter.
The U.S. will evaluate the responses within days and offer "a possible
landing zone" that could include a reciprocal tariff rate, according to the
letter.
It was unclear which countries would receive the letter, but it was
directed at those with active negotiations that included meetings and
exchanges of documents. Washington has been engaged in such talks with the
European Union, Japan, Vietnam and India, among others.
A USTR official said trade talks were ongoing. “Productive negotiations
with many key trading partners continue at a rapid pace. It is in all
parties’ interest to take stock of progress and assess any next steps.”
'REGARDLESS OF ONGOING LITIGATION'
Tiffany Smith, vice president of global trade policy at the National
Foreign Trade Council, welcomed the USTR moves.
"We are encouraged that USTR is moving negotiations ahead as quickly as
they can," she told Reuters, adding that trade deals that removed barriers
for U.S. companies abroad and lowered U.S. tariffs would be "a win-win if
they are done in a way that returns predictability and stability to trade
relationships."
Trump's ambitious - and often frenetic - tariff policy is a pillar of his
"America First" economic agenda as he seeks to reshape U.S. trade
relationships, reduce trade deficits and protect American industries.
Republican lawmakers are also banking on tariffs to add to federal revenue
and offset the cost of the tax cut legislation
<https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-sweeping-tax-cut-bill-includes-provision-weaken-court-powers-2025-05-30/>
now
working its way through Congress.
Trump's tariff policies have taken investors on a rollercoaster ride. In
May, U.S. stocks held their biggest rally of any month since November 2023,
but that was after global indexes had cratered under the barrage of Trump's
tariff announcements through February, March and early April.
Stocks were little changed on Monday afternoon after Trump announced a surprise
doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports
<https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-says-he-plans-double-steel-tariffs-50-2025-05-30/>
on
Friday at an event in Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile, the legality of the approach used for imposing the most sweeping
of his tariffs has been cast into doubt.
Last Wednesday, the Court of International Trade ruled that Trump had
overstepped his authority with tariffs devised under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the "Liberation Day" levies and
earlier ones imposed on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to
Trump's accusations that the three countries have facilitated the flow of
fentanyl into the U.S. Less than 24 hours later, an appeals court
temporarily paused that decision
<https://www.reuters.com/business/us-courts-tariff-ruling-gives-markets-short-term-pop-long-term-angst-2025-05-29/>.
The tariffs at the center of the legal dispute are expected to remain in
effect as the case plays out.
The draft letter to trading partners warns them not to believe the tariffs
will be sidelined if the court rules against Trump's use of the IEEPA.
"Regardless of ongoing litigation concerning the President’s reciprocal
tariff action in U.S. courts, the President intends to continue this tariff
program pursuant to other robust legal authorities if necessary, so it is
important that we continue our discussions on these matters," the draft
says.

Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia; Additional reporting by
Andrea Shalal in Washington Editing by Dan Burns and Matthew Lewis
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