President Donald Trump said Friday during a business roundtable in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that too many countries want to work with the U.S. on new trade deals.
Because negotiations are progressing too slowly, the president said trading partners will receive a letter detailing their tariffs.
The letters will be delivered by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“We have, at the same time, 150 countries that want to make a deal, but you’re not able to see that many countries,” Trump said. “So, at a certain point, over the next two to three weeks, I think Scott and Howard will be sending letters out, essentially telling people – we’ll be very fair – but we’ll be telling people what they’ll be paying to do business in the United States.”
The president paused reciprocal tariff levies for 90 days to enable negotiations. The delay ends July 8, just over seven weeks from Friday.
“I guess you could say they could appeal it,” Trump said of other countries’ reactions to learning about their tariff status, “but for the most part I think we’re going to be very fair, but it’s not possible to meet the number of people that want to see us.”
