The discussions between Trump and these nations involve only a minor segment of those impacted by his extensive tariff policies. Significantly, this is regarded as the initial stage of more comprehensive negotiations, as countries evaluate their reactions.
India, Vietnam, and Israel are reportedly engaged in discussions with President Donald Trump, as reported by CNN, just two days following the announcement of new tariffs by the United States.
According to a State Department summary of their meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the tariffs with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as noted by Reuters.
The negotiations between Trump and these nations involve only a minor segment of those impacted by his extensive tariff policies. This is viewed as the initial stage of wider discussions as countries evaluate their responses.
On Friday, Vietnam, which has faced a 46 percent tariff, declared its intention to reduce tariffs on American products to zero. Trump shared this development on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“I just had a very productive conversation with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who expressed that Vietnam aims to lower their tariffs to ZERO if an agreement can be reached with the US. I conveyed my gratitude on behalf of our nation and expressed my anticipation for a future meeting,” Trump stated in a post.
While some officials contend that the tariffs are a strategic move by the president to alter global trade dynamics, Trump informed reporters on Thursday that he believes these tariffs enhance his negotiating power with other world leaders.
“Every country has reached out to us. That’s the advantage of our approach — we have positioned ourselves in a commanding role. The tariffs provide us with significant leverage for negotiations. They always have,” Trump remarked.
In reference to the 27 percent tariffs imposed on India, Trump noted that while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friend, India enforces a 52 percent tariff on American goods. “For years, we have charged them almost nothing,” Trump added.
Vietnam, recognized as the United States’ primary trading partner in Southeast Asia and an essential center for manufacturing, faced a 46 percent tariff as part of Trump’s extensive trade policies. While initial remarks indicated that these tariffs were not open to negotiation, recent discussions imply a change in that stance.
According to The Times of Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is anticipated to travel to the United States shortly, following an announcement from Trump. Should this visit take place, a significant topic on his agenda is likely to be the 17 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Israeli products.
