Over 50 countries seek trade talks with U.S. after the sweeping tariffs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida. More than 50 countries have reportedly approached the United States to begin trade negotiations following President Donald Trump’s sudden imposition of sweeping tariffs, according to senior administration officials speaking Sunday. The tariffs, set to take effect Wednesday, have already rattled financial markets, stoked fears of a global recession, and disrupted longstanding trade relationships.

“This is not the kind of thing you can negotiate away in days or weeks,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on NBC’s Meet the Press. “We have to see what the countries offer and whether it’s believable.”

The White House confirmed that over 50 nations — many of which are U.S. allies — have initiated contact with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to open talks. The import taxes, announced on April 2, are part of Trump’s strategy to overhaul global trade practices he deems unfair to the United States.

“WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won’t be easy,” Trump declared on social media while spending the weekend golfing in Florida.

Markets, however, responded with alarm. U.S. stock futures tumbled Sunday evening — the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 futures fell nearly 4%, while Nasdaq futures dropped nearly 5%. Even Bitcoin, which remained relatively stable last week, saw a nearly 6% dip.

Top White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett acknowledged the international backlash but claimed it was having a desired effect. “Other countries are angry and retaliating, and, by the way, coming to the table,” Hassett said on This Week.

The tariffs are affecting both adversaries and allies. Israel, a longstanding U.S. partner, faces a 17% tariff. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to raise the issue during a Monday visit to the White House. His office said discussions will also include the ongoing war in Gaza.

Vietnam has also reached out, with Trump claiming that its leader offered to reduce tariffs to zero “if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly opposed the tariffs, stating: “We are ready to deploy all the tools — negotiating and economic — necessary to support our businesses and our sectors that may be penalized.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on CBS’s Face the Nation that the tariffs are moving forward: “The tariffs are coming. Of course they are.” He said they would “definitely” remain “for days and weeks.”

In Washington, Trump’s tariff move is facing skepticism even within his own party. Some Republicans are joining Democrats in backing legislation that would reassert Congress’s role in tariff policy. A bipartisan bill would require presidential tariffs to be approved by Congress within 60 days or be automatically rescinded.

“We gave some of that power to the executive branch. I think, in hindsight, that was a mistake,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who plans to introduce the House version of the bill. “Passing it won’t be easy unless markets continue to react negatively and indicators like inflation and unemployment worsen.”

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the Senate GOP’s No. 2 leader, backed Trump’s authority but conceded that concerns are growing: “There is concern across the country. People are watching the markets.”

Industry Voices, Divided Opinions

Elon Musk, head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency and CEO of Tesla, expressed a preference for open trade during a weekend event in Italy. “I’d like to see a zero-tariff situation between the U.S. and Europe,” he said.

His comments drew a sharp response from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro. “Elon, when he is on his DOGE lane, is great… But we understand what’s going on here,” Navarro said on Fox News. “He’s simply protecting his own interest as any business person would do.”

Economist Lawrence Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton, criticized the administration’s mixed messaging. “If it’s just making a deal, then we don’t raise any revenue nor do we get any businesses to relocate to the United States. If it’s a permanent revenue source… then we’re going to have these tariffs permanently. So the president can’t have it both ways,” Summers said on ABC’s This Week.

As the world braces for the first wave of tariff impacts this week, uncertainty reigns over how long this economic confrontation will last — and what form it will ultimately take.