Trump is too busy for his own tariff negotiations, so will dictate terms instead

AppleInsider

Countries including ones who supply Apple, have been told they will no longer get to negotiate tariffs with Trump, because he hasn't got the time.

Trump during his first administration -- image credit: White House

When Trump announced his "reciprocal" tariffs, he could not have tried to be any clearer -- these were the tariffs, there would be no exceptions. Then there were exceptions, then those were temporary, and then there came negotiations with various countries, which came along with a pause in the tariffs.

Now Trump says there simply isn't time to negotiate with all of the countries, so he's not going to. Instead, according to Bloomberg, Trump says that "over the next two to three weeks," countries will just be told what their new tariff is.

Specifically, treasury secretary Scott Bessent and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick "will be sending letters out essentially telling people [what] they'll be paying to do business in the United States."

"I think we're going to be very fair," he continued. "But it's not possible to meet the number of people that want to see us."

Trump did not say whether the tariffs imposed would be the same as the ones announced on his so-called "Liberation Day." Nor did he say which countries would get letters, nor how many.

He did say that there were "150 countries that want to make a deal," but now how many he and the White House were actually working with.

Regardless of whether a country gets to negotiate or just receives a letter, they will not pay the tariffs that Trump decrees. The named country never pays any of the tariff, as it's actually a charge against the US firm importing from those countries.

This means Apple is predicting it will have to pay out $900 million just in tariffs during its next financial quarter. That's because Trump set tariffs on imports from all around the world -- meaning Apple is paying tariffs on what it buys in from every single overseas supplier.

One stated intention of the tariffs is to bring money into the US from other countries, while in practice it is coming from American firms and the consumers they sell to. Another is that this will bring manufacturing back to the States, and all it's doing is making firms reshore to different non-US territories.



Read on AppleInsider

hammeroftruth

The suits of the Heard and McDonald islands will be able to meet with Trump over tuna tarrifs. White House aides will need to put down an immense amount of newspaper before the meeting. 

mikethemartian

hammeroftruth said:

The suits of the Heard and McDonald islands will be able to meet with Trump over tuna tarrifs. White House aides will need to put down an immense amount of newspaper before the meeting. 

Trump probably thinks he is going to be negotiating with Oswald Cobblepot.

mark fearing

Incompetence at a level only America could produce...

humbug1873

I pulled my investments, money  and accounts  out the US in preparation for the current idiot ... in December .. and plan to keep my money out of the US and away from US companies for the foreseeable future.

I don't like to deal with idiots, that elected that clown not once but twice instead of putting him into a jail cell. From a country that did this mistake once before almost 100 years ago. Don't give in to fascists.

It's time we get liberated form US dominance. So liberation day was right.

edited May 16

teejay2012

Does it matter what Trump says the tariff is going to be? Mexico and Canada had a fully executed trade agreement with the US, one that Trump himself negotiated, approved and signed, and 1 month into office, he tore it up. Trump changes his mind as much as New England weather. No one trusts him or the US anymore.

nickott

The reason Trump likes tariffs is because it's essentially skimming off the top. Money for nothing. This is what mobsters do. Vig. He doesn't care who has to pay it.

lotones

Hey, bad golf won't play itself.

edgecrusherr

Golf and bribery can be very time-consuming.

9secondkox2

I think that’s only part of the story. 

Jinping didn’t want to negotiate himself so he sent “his people” to do so. Trump did the same. 

I think when key leaders want to negotiate, trump will do so. But he’s got really strong competent folks doing that, so he doesn’t need to overextend himself doing every little thing. He’s the president. He has a team. He’s empowering his team to do what they’re supposed to do - as leadership classes teach leaders to do. The guy does everything. It’s about time he lets the other guys rise up. When you have a talented team, you can trust them to do important stuff. 

ilarynx

9secondkox2 said:

I think that’s only part of the story. 

Jinping didn’t want to negotiate himself so he sent “his people” to do so. Trump did the same. 

I think when key leaders want to negotiate, trump will do so. But he’s got really strong competent folks doing that, so he doesn’t need to overextend himself doing every little thing. He’s the president. He has a team. He’s empowering his team to do what they’re supposed to do - as leadership classes teach leaders to do. The guy does everything. It’s about time he lets the other guys rise up. When you have a talented team, you can trust them to do important stuff. 

"[Trump has] really strong competent folks". Man, stop with these jokes. They're kinda sad. 

The word "folks" is plural. Please name the multiple "really strong competent folks" who will be negotiating for Trump. 

Failing that, please name the multiple "really strong competent folks" in the Trump regime. 

Failing that, please name the multiple "really strong competent folks" in the GOP. 

If nothing else, it will help define what the acolytes define as "really strong competent folks".

avon b7

9secondkox2 said:

I think that’s only part of the story. 

Jinping didn’t want to negotiate himself so he sent “his people” to do so. Trump did the same. 

I think when key leaders want to negotiate, trump will do so. But he’s got really strong competent folks doing that, so he doesn’t need to overextend himself doing every little thing. He’s the president. He has a team. He’s empowering his team to do what they’re supposed to do - as leadership classes teach leaders to do. The guy does everything. It’s about time he lets the other guys rise up. When you have a talented team, you can trust them to do important stuff. 

It's impossible to negotiate in the name of Trump if those tasked with doing the job are not aware of his constant swings from yes to know and back again.

Look no further than Steven Horsford grilling Jamieson Greer on the House floor over the tariff pause. Jamieson probably found out about that during the grilling!

How is it possible that a trade representative was so out of touch with what was going on? 

charlesn

While this certainly sounds like something Trump would do, what is the source for this story? This should be big news but I'm seeing nothing about it on CNBC, WSJ, Bloomberg or any other business news site. 

edited May 16

macgui

avon b7 said:

toddzrx said:

mark fearing said:

Incompetence at a level only America could produce...

Indeed!  The Biden admin was awful.  Fortunately Trump is righting the ship.

humbug1873 said:

I pulled my investments, money  and accounts  out the US in preparation for the current idiot ... in December .. and plan to keep my money out of the US and away from US companies for the foreseeable future.

I don't like to deal with idiots, that elected that clown not once but twice instead of putting him into a jail cell. From a country that did this mistake once before almost 100 years ago. Don't give in to fascists.

It's time we get liberated form US dominance. So liberation day was right.

Your loss.  If you're so smart, how come you're not running Germany?  And we have an historical record that proves you're lying: Trump is not a fascist; his first term already proved that.  On the other hand, Germany is trying to outlaw AfD.  Things that make you go "Hmmmmmmmm".

teejay2012 said:

Does it matter what Trump says the tariff is going to be? Mexico and Canada had a fully executed trade agreement with the US, one that Trump himself negotiated, approved and signed, and 1 month into office, he tore it up. Trump changes his mind as much as New England weather. No one trusts him or the US anymore.

No one trusts Trump anymore????  Like the Saudis, Qataris, and other allies in the Middle East that welcomed him with open arms this past week?  And the many many nations that are trying to cut new trade deals because of the tariffs (which is the whole point of them)?

All the commenters so far on this article have their heads firmly planted in the ground.  You refuse to view reality for what it is.  Your side lost the election in 2024 because your woke progressive policies are losers.  The majority of the US wants nothing to do with men in women's sports, with sky-high inflation because of massive government spending, nor foreign wars popping up due to weak US foreign policy.  We've seen clearly the stark differences between Trump's first term and Biden's, and that's why Trump won last fall.  This isn't rocket science.  You all will do better to accept reality sooner rather than later.

I think the overriding factor in both terms can be boiled down to one simple idea. 

Everything he wanted to propose with trade could have been achieved with none of wild swings, billions lost or antagonising friends and foes alike, by simply sitting down with people and putting his goals on the table through civilised conversation. 

There was zero need to do what he did. 

In Trump's first term he demonstrated that he knows next to nothing about tariffs and trade deficits. He continues to demonstrate this dearth of knowledge and that he's learned nothing about how they work and their effects on economy. He wields them like a bully on a playground, slinging threats and untrue claims.

I should be used to it by now, but I'm still amazed and disappointed at how many people choose to accept ridiculous claims of numbers that change by the hour as fact without any substantiation whatsoever. I err— Trump's charts and Sharpie and occasional sheets of paper "receipts" that no one ever sees are presented by him as "fact" and accepted by MAGAs as "facts". Their "research" never goes any deeper than FAUX News, which isn't a news program at all according to Murdoch. 

Trump won because his campaign pandered to haters of democracy, because he continuously made impossible campaign promises which he has continually ignored or walked back. He, along with Musk, have wreaked havoc on those aren't rich white Americans. Yes his administrations stand in start contrast to Biden's. Even as this administration tramples the legal rights of people under the Constitution, MAGAs support him. Only a few have realized that his actions have only benefitted him and a small circle billionaires. He plays golf with Democracy burns, under his orders. Orders with are often illegal under the Constitution.

Democrats were busy arguing amongst themselves, assuming after his first run at (not for) Democracy, he wouldn't win a second term. Others wanted to "make a statement" that they didn't find either choice acceptable. Everyone who didn't vote for Harris is responsible for the greed, hate and malice that passes for a Presidential administration. Trump has lied all his life. Criminality has been a way of life for him, and holding the highest office in the land hasn't tempered his ego nor instilled any sense of dignity or honor.

That this behavior is acceptable by so many would be surprising, until you examine what's important to his supporters. We are seeing the deliberate eroding of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. MAGAs and Republicans are all too happy to overlook all criminal, illegal, and unethical actions of Trump and his minions.

So can anyone be surprised that his ignorance of tariffs and trade deficits caused all of this chaos? Chaos has been weaponized by Republicans. When he walks back his folly and calls it victory, Republicans cheer. Trump claims 150 or 200 countries (depending on the time of day) are begging to cut deals with the US. But he doesn't name any. MAGAs just accept it.

Some of us have never trusted Trump. Nobody ever should. Roll over and accept it? No fucking way. Not as long as it's still legal to vote. For now.

carmb

Trump can spin this all he likes but it hardly matters. What matters is just how much his embarrassing mismanagement will impact the lives of individual voters. Trump seems to think this is about convincing folks to let him do what he wants because they believe that's a good thing. Ironically, the more freedom he has, the deeper the hole he will dig for the country. At some point, the Republican Party will pay a price. His truly dedicated supporters will never abandon him. Yet they do not represent a majority. Democrats and swing voters will certainly be turned off by where this is headed. As well, some of his base will waver when their lives are directly impacted. Trump can certainly do this as he sees fit but it will get ugly simply because the economy faltering and inflation gaining traction is bound to come with consequences. That's especially the case when much of what Trump suggests will be the positive impact of his approach turns out to be so much nonsense. Oversimplifying everything may be effective when doing a political campaign. Voters love an easy-to-digest message. Yet it's a whole other matter to expect complex scenarios to conform to the stripped-down, shallow version of reality you are selling. Trump appears to be of the view that life is what he says it is and he makes stuff happen just because that's the way he wants it. The Ukraine conflict ended in one day? Of course. Lowering taxes and ending deficits. Sure. Absolutely. Stuff made in America like in the good old days. Well, heck, why not. Lowering prices? Sure. Add that one in. Banish all the undocumented asylum alumni and hardened criminals. Done. Believing this baloney? Priceless. To be fair, I doubt many of his supporters think everything will happen as he says it will. Yet they do seem to be of the view that Trump is fiscally competent, that he's playing some form of clever chess. It seems that many swing voters and the like picked Trump because they figured he'd tame inflation. If they really thought that, they must be wondering just how they could have gotten it so wrong. Inflation, it turns out, isn't something a man born into wealth loses much sleep over. 

anthogag

In King Donald's world countries are paying the beautiful tariffs, not Americans. If Americans complain prices are going up because importers are passing the cost to consumers, he will say (from his beautiful $400 million Air Force Palace for One) "let them eat tariff cake".  

edited May 16

sitime

I miss when tech news wasn’t so political. And that’s not a criticism of the writers and editors of this site. All of this specific political news is also very relevant Apple news. If you are covering Apple news, this is what you need to write about in 2025. 100% understandable.

I just miss when the biggest news of a particular week (a week that wasn’t WWDC, a product announcement or whatnot) might have been leaked CAD files for an Apple Watch or a rumored prototype case mold of an unreleased iPhone, lol. I look forward to the day when that can be true again.

edited May 16

godofbiscuitssf

Somehow not too busy to whine like a child about the SCOTUS decisions against him. 

chasm

Putting aside any political opinions on the current President, he does objectively seem to be more erratic and unclear since the last time he was in office. This is having a dramatic effect on the US economy and international relations. Even his usual allies seem concerned and confused by his king-like edicts and general behaviour.

chasm

charlesn said:

While this certainly sounds like something Trump would do, what is the source for this story? This should be big news but I'm seeing nothing about it on CNBC, WSJ, Bloomberg or any other business news site. 

Reading the article will help you find the source. Those blue words are links. Here's the specific link from the AI article to the Bloomberg report you apparently missed:

Trump says

kiltedgreen

Too busy? When you’re golfing for 20% of your presidency it must be hard to find time for the day job.

all those countries lining up to negotiate tariffs? Who? Well, he can’t say because the number is 0. Says he is going to just set a number and send out letters - so, just like “Liberation Day” then. Maybe that island where only penguins live will get their tariff removed …

Trump is like a 5 year old with a flame thrower.