U.S. Tariffs To Return To "Reciprocal" Levels If No Deals Are Reached

Tariff rates will return to “reciprocal” levels if trade agreements are not secured during a 90-day pause, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Auzinea Bacon reported for CNN.

The president has consistently exaggerated the scope of negotiations.

“President Trump has put them on notice that if you do not negotiate in good faith, you will ratchet back up to your April 2 level,” Bessent said on State of the Union with Jake Tapper.

He said 18 “important” trading partners are the current priority, and that regional rate-setting—such as for Central America or parts of Africa—may also be used.

Trump announced the “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, dubbing the day “Liberation Day.” He then paused those tariffs for 90 days, lowering the baseline rate to 10%. Trump recently warned that time is running out for countries to strike a deal.

At one point, the president exaggerated the scope of negotiations, claiming the U.S. was in talks with “200 countries”—more than what exists—according to additional reporting by David Goldman, Betsy Klein, Elisabeth Buchwald, and Tami Luhby for CNN.