Trump Administration Lays Out Roadmap to Streamline Tariff Talks
Officials have drafted a framework for staggered reciprocal trade negotiations
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-tariff-trade-negotiations-phased-approach-7b8380a1
Article excerpts below …
[[[[ WASHINGTON—U.S. officials plan to conduct staggered trade negotiations using a new template that sets common terms for many of the talks, according to people familiar with the plans.
In an attempt to streamline talks over President Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs, officials plan to use a framework prepared by the U.S. Trade Representative’s office that lays out broad categories for negotiation: tariffs and quotas; non-tariff barriers to trade, such as regulations on U.S. goods; digital trade; rules of origin for products; and economic security and other commercial issues, according to people familiar with a draft document outlining the negotiating terms.
Within those categories, U.S. officials would spell out demands for individual nations, people familiar with the matter said, emphasizing that the document could change as the administration gets more input. ]]]]
To me, that last paragraph reads as Trump’s way or the highway, not a two sided negotiation with bipartisan palatable outcomes … after being threatened, bullied, and in many cases ghosted by Trump over several months now, I can’t see how any country would be willing to roll over for Trump … any countries doing so are likely to be regarded as global pariahs imo, if such deals adversely affect international relations.
Against this backdrop, I expect markets will begin to trade sideways for 2-3 months now until trade matters become clear, albeit with days of wild and calmer volatility depending on breaking news, or the lack of it, or unexpected Trump pivots, which on recent form can sometimes be a daily occurrence.
Dex
