Trump Sends Mixed Signals Ahead of Tariff Deadline/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As the clock ticks down to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, the White House remains vague on whether they are bargaining tools or permanent fixtures. Mixed messages from Trump and his team have left investors, businesses, and foreign leaders uncertain about U.S. trade policy. The tariffs, set to take effect Wednesday, could reshape global commerce.
Trump Tariff Uncertainty: Quick Looks
- Tariffs scheduled to begin Wednesday remain shrouded in strategic ambiguity
- Trump claims tariffs could be both permanent and negotiable
- Markets surged Tuesday after global selloffs, but volatility remains
- White House says over 70 nations have reached out to negotiate
- Some officials tout tariffs as leverage, others call it a trade emergency
- Trump insists trade deficits and “rigged systems” justify tariff hikes
- China and others have already announced retaliatory measures
- Japanese talks offer hope, but other deals remain unclear
- GOP lawmakers urge clarity amid pressure from constituents
- Stock markets, investors, and businesses await firm direction
Trump Sends Mixed Signals Ahead of Tariff Deadline
Deep Look
White House Delivers Mixed Signals as Tariff Rollout Nears
With less than 48 hours before sweeping new tariffs are set to go into effect, President Donald Trump and his administration are offering conflicting messages that have left global markets, U.S. businesses, and foreign leaders in a holding pattern.
At a high-stakes moment on Monday afternoon, reporters in the Oval Office pressed Trump for clarity. Were the tariffs intended as negotiating leverage? Or were they a permanent feature of Trump’s reimagined global trade framework?
“It can both be true,” Trump replied. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”
It was the type of answer that encapsulated the current uncertainty: bold, ambiguous, and open-ended. Investors hoping for clarity saw the markets slide to a mixed close.
On Tuesday, markets briefly rallied. The S&P 500 opened 3.4% higher and the Dow surged more than 1,400 points in early trading, fueled in part by signs of possible talks between the U.S. and Japan. But volatility continues, as no clear path has emerged for halting or modifying the tariffs before Wednesday’s deadline.
Tariffs: Strategy or Policy?
Trump’s trade agenda, long centered around tariffs, is rooted in the belief that America has been exploited by global trade systems and must reset its position by applying pressure through import taxes. The current round of tariffs covers a wide swath of countries and goods, including a 24% duty on Japanese products and a 25% tariff on foreign auto imports.
Yet the administration’s messaging has been disjointed. Trade adviser Peter Navarro called the tariffs a necessary “emergency” response to trade deficits and ruled out any negotiations. “This is not a negotiation,” he wrote in a Financial Times op-ed.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Stephen Miran described a more flexible approach. Bessent said talks are expected throughout April and May, suggesting the tariffs could evolve based on deals struck with individual countries.
“There are conflicting narratives because everybody has got an opinion,” Miran said Monday. “And that’s fine. That’s how you avoid groupthink.”
Global Response and Political Pressure
More than 70 countries have reportedly reached out to the U.S. to open trade negotiations. On Monday, Trump confirmed a call with South Korea’s acting president and said Seoul was preparing to send a delegation to Washington. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s willingness to negotiate also sent positive signals, helping Tokyo’s Nikkei index surge 6%.
Yet Trump remained noncommittal about reversing tariffs, even with close allies. When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to eliminate his country’s trade surplus with the U.S., Trump replied, “Maybe not,” and noted the billions in American military aid provided to Israel.
Trump’s approach—insisting on maximum pressure while entertaining deals—has drawn concern on Capitol Hill. Republican senators like Thom Tillis and John Kennedy have urged the administration to provide more clarity to the public and the markets.
“There’s some uncertainty about what the president’s objective is,” said Kennedy, noting the conflicting public statements from Trump’s advisers. “I think the medicine may be worse than the disease.”
GOP Support—With Caution
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune voiced support for Trump’s trade goals but cautioned that the administration must demonstrate results soon.
“We’re going to give him the space necessary to do it,” Johnson said. Thune added, “People are watching and waiting to see what the ultimate policy implementation will be.”
Some Republicans are beginning to worry about political fallout as the 2026 midterms approach. While Trump is constitutionally barred from a third term, GOP lawmakers could pay the price if recession fears worsen.
Tariff Diplomacy: What’s Next?
Behind the scenes, Bessent has been active in diplomacy. On Friday, he told lawmakers the tariffs represented a “high-water mark” and that the goal was to reduce them through country-by-country deals. But there’s no timeline, and talks may stretch into summer.
Meanwhile, China has already retaliated with 34% tariffs of its own, prompting Trump to threaten a further 50% hike in response. The president’s firm stance on China—whom he’s accused of “rigging the system”—remains a key sticking point.
Though Japan’s willingness to negotiate brought brief market optimism, questions remain over how such agreements would be structured, especially when Trump has labeled some tariffs “permanent.” For instance, his administration has installed a baseline 10% tariff on most countries.
Whether that balancing act can succeed without further damaging the economy remains to be seen.
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