White House Remains Tight-Lipped on Countries Seeking Trade Deals Amid Tariff Changes

The White House has opted not to disclose a list of countries that they allege have reached out to negotiate tariff agreements. President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have stated that as many as 75 countries have shown interest in trade discussions; however, no specific details about these countries have been shared.

Recently, as President Trump shifted his stance on tariffs, Treasury Secretary Bessent addressed reporters outside the White House, emphasizing the courage it took for Trump to maintain his course until this point. Bessent remarked that this willingness to pause tariffs resulted in engagement from over 75 countries, advising that those who refrain from retaliatory measures would be rewarded.

Despite requests for transparency, the White House confirmed to NBC News that it would not provide a list of the countries involved. Following a pause on tariffs for 90 days on "more than 75 countries," Trump suggested in his remarks on Truth Social that the number of countries interested in deals could possibly be much greater.

Trump indicated that the decision to pause tariffs came after careful consideration, noting that it had been on his mind for several days. He mentioned that the announcement caused stock markets to rally following a period of decline attributed to widespread tariffs.

In his recent decisions, Trump has suspended all tariffs except for a baseline levy of 10 percent, while escalating tariffs on China to an unprecedented 145 percent. He explained that the decision materialized early on the day of his announcement following discussions with Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who shared that Trump’s communication was drafted without legal counsel.

Trump expressed that they approached the drafting of the announcement with genuine intention, stating it was created "from the heart." He stressed the desire to avoid negatively impacting countries that did not warrant such actions, acknowledging that many were eager to negotiate. However, he indicated that there are limitations to how many negotiations could be handled at once, reiterating the need to prioritize national interests alongside negotiations.