President Donald Trump’s trade policy is beginning a new era. The White House has created a list of tariff negotiations covering around 20 countries that Trump has prioritized.
This list covers a wide spectrum, from large exporters to small economies. The aim is to quickly create model contracts and pave the way for a more comprehensive trade arrangement.
Sources familiar with the issue said the US Trade Representative (USTR) described members of Congress. This list includes countries with a large number of US imports, such as Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, and small economies such as Fiji, Lesotho and Mauritius.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said consultations with 18 countries would be a priority, but he did not share the full list with the public. Commerce Secretary Howard Luttonick said agreements with these countries are “templates” and allow the process to proceed faster. “We’re trying to show people a framework to do business,” Rutnick said.
This list includes major countries such as the UK and India, Australia, Argentina, Cambodia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Israel, Madagascar, Malaysia, Switzerland and Taiwan. The amount of goods the US imports from Japan in one day exceeds those imported from Lesotho in one year, but the Trump administration aims to set an example by making trade easier and faster in smaller countries.
China is being valued in a special negotiation process. Discussions with Chinese officials are expected to begin this weekend. Trump has announced that the 145% tariffs imposed on China could be reduced to 80%. But officials say talks with Beijing are progressing in another truck with other countries.
Sen. Kevin Kramer said the agreement should be completed before the 90-day tariff suspension announced by Trump on April 2 expires in July, and that some countries, such as Switzerland, are in a favorable position to negotiate an extension of the tariff freeze.
Kevin Hassett, one of the influential figures of the Trump administration’s trade policy, told CNBC that around 24 countries trade with the US, like the UK.
Argentina is in active trade talks with the United States under the leadership of Trump’s close ally Javier Mairi. Treasury Secretary Bescent said Argentina was “on the list” for the transaction.
*This is not investment advice.
