Trump is too busy for his own tariff negotiations, so will dictate terms instead
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.
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Comments
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.
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".
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?
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.
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.
Trump says
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.