His government Donald Trump In the US he wants to conclude 90 trade agreements in 90 days, but the challenges for the rapid resolution of the president’s trade war after them duties They are already obvious.
The head of the European Union Maros Sefzovic’s trade department will be on Monday (12/04/2025) among the first foreign trade officials to come to Washington for emergency negotiations on the abrupt duties announced by Donald.
The EU is one of the largest US trade partners with nearly $ 1 trillion in two -way trade last year.
But when Sefcovic arrives, Trump’s top tariff negotiator, Finance Minister Scott Besed will be in Buenos Aires to show his support for Argentina’s economic reforms and not in Washington, even though Argentina represents only 16.3.
Bessed’s absence on Monday highlights doubts between trade experts on how effectively the government can manage so many simultaneous negotiations and overall prospects for 90 agreements in 90 days.
“To launch these decisions will need serious negotiations,” said Wendy Katler, a former US trading negotiator, head of the Asia Society Institute.
“There is no way during this time frame to make a comprehensive agreement with any of these countries.”
White House Advisor Peter Navarro has reversed the Fox Business Network on Friday that Besed, USA trading representative Jameson Green and Commerce Minister Howard Lutnik could do the job.
“So we will run 90 deals in 90 days. It is possible, “he said. After all, Trump, “the boss, will be the head of the negotiator. Nothing happens without looking at it very carefully, “Navarro said.
Began the countdown to duties
Trump began his 90 -day countdown clock this week, when he suspended the implementation of his higher duties for many countries, as financial markets fell to the Tartars due to fears of recession and inflation, among other factors. He said that the 90 -day cessation would allow countries to come up with bilateral agreements with the US.
Recovering the confidence of financial markets is another crucial goal over 90 days. Investors sold US government debt this week, launching interest rates and sending the dollar lower in the midst of fears of recession in the US and rejuvenating inflation. Gold, a refuge for investors in times of crisis, set a high record.
Katler said this turmoil would put pressure on Trump’s team for some quick wins.
“The weight will fall on them to show that they can quickly conclude agreements with countries and instill some confidence in the market and in other commercial partners that there is an exit here,” he said.
Key countries and China
Increasing friction with China, which did not suspend the new US duties and imposed a fee of equal degree, increased the gloom this week.
Achieving trade agreements that will satisfy both Trump and financial markets is a “huge project,” Katler said.
Instead, the Trump team should probably prioritize key countries and extend the 90-day cessation for others, he said.
Even the smallest of the trade agreements of Trump’s first term, the revision of the automotive and steel provisions of the US-South Korean Free Trade Agreement lasted for over eight months, while the total US-Mexico-Canada agreement for two years took more than two years.
But Greer, Ustr, said: “We can get to a point where the president can close these agreements. It can negotiate, and if there is a good deal, it can consider accepting it, and if not, then it will have the tariff. “
Great deficiencies in critical positions
The logistical infrastructure of the coordination of 90 rows of negotiations is just an obstacle to the stretched government.
Many key positions have not been covered and officials who are there are often busy with other duties, diplomats said, such as finance ministry officials who met with Ukraine on Friday for a critical agreement on minerals.
Greer told Fox News that his staff, consisting of 200 people, “worked around the clock” as the proposals were exchanged back and forth with his foreign counterparts.
The Treasury has only one more senior official confirmed by the Senate, Deputy Finance Minister Michael Follander. Trump has not even appointed anyone for the key position of the Deputy Minister for International Affairs and a career official serves as a service.
The USTR is also largely based on a personal career, with several key positions that require confirmation from the Senate not to be paid.
Another factor that complicates the situation is the uncertainty about US positions on commercial issues, a second diplomatic source added, saying Trump’s top trade advisers each have their own views.
Some countries, including Britain, Australia and others, have discussed trade with the government from Trump’s swearing -in in January, with little results.
“It’s not like there is a sheet of paper with steady discussion points that is changing hands,” said a diplomatic source. “It’s a process. And I would say to use the term conversations, not negotiations. “