Trump opens tariff talks: confusion over objectives and strategy

White House opens talks with EU, India, Japan and South Korea, but uncertainty remains over actual US demands

After the collapse of the markets and the drop in the polls, the White House announced a 90-day suspension of duties, officially opening a new phase of trade negotiations. But according to reports in the Washington Post, Donald Trump’s objectives remain largely unclear, even for some of his own advisers.

The demands: natural gas, lower taxes on Tech and obstacles to China

Among the priorities that have emerged, the Trump administration aims at increasing imports of US natural gas, reducing duties on US-made products, and reviewing taxes on Silicon Valley giants, especially in Europe. Another strategic objective is to prevent China from circumventing US duties by passing its goods through third countries.

In parallel, the president is considering a temporary exemption for the automotive sector, which is currently penalised by 25% duties.

Dialogues with over 70 countries, but priority given to anti-China partners

The White House has reportedly received meeting requests from over 70 countries, but Trump has said he is willing to prioritise talks with Vietnam, India, South Korea and Japan. The aim, according to sources quoted by Politico, is to strengthen ties with strategic partners in the containment of Chinese influence.

Yesterday, Monday 14 April, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic was in Washington to start the US-EU confrontation. Trump said he wanted to deal with Europe ‘as one bloc’.

Confusion in the US diplomatic machine

Despite the announcement of the suspension of tariffs, the White House has not yet provided any operational guidance on the negotiations. Many international interlocutors report substantial confusion: it is not clear with whom to negotiate, nor what minimum conditions are required to obtain concessions.

‘We have no idea what they want from other countries, and worse, they don’t know what Trump wants from them,’ said Doug Holtz-Eakin of the American Action Forum. The diplomat of a major US trading partner confirmed to the Post that there is a lack of a clear and shared line.

EU-US negotiations: beef and rules for web giants

In the dialogue with Brussels, European restrictions on US meat imports and regulations against web giants, which Washington considers punitive, could end up on the table. But according to Lori Wallach, director of the progressive think tank Rethink Trade, much will depend on the scope of the agreements.

‘The question is whether they will only seek to favour individual companies or whether they will aim for a real rebalancing of trade,’ she said. ‘If it’s just about removing European privacy rules for Tech or exporting more beef, then the goal of reducing the trade deficit will never be achieved.’

For now, the White House line remains uncertain: so much so that even among allies and partners, disorientation is growing.

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