The president says US trade partners are begging for exemptions as even steeper tariffs go into effect Wednesday
President Donald Trump has claimed that dozens of countries are scrambling to negotiate trade deals with the United States following his sweeping new tariffs, boasting that foreign leaders are begging for exemptions to avoid the full impact of the levies.
Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner on Tuesday night, Trump said his administration is “doing very well” in early negotiations with countries already hit with a baseline 10% tariff last week – and dozens more facing even steeper duties starting Wednesday.
“I’m telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” Trump said. “They are dying to make a deal: ‘Please, please sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything sir.’”
The administration previously stated that nearly 70 countries have sought talks to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, as Trump pushes for customized agreements with individual nations. “I call them tailored deals, not off the rack,” he said earlier Tuesday at an executive order signing event at the White House.
Trump also claimed that the tariff strategy is working great and predicted it would boost Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections – dismissing critics who say the levies are backfiring on American consumers and investors. He also took aim at GOP lawmakers who supported bipartisan efforts to curb his authority to impose tariffs beyond 60 days without congressional approval.
“We’re going to win the midterm elections, and we’re going to have a tremendous, thundering landslide,” Trump told Republican lawmakers and donors. “And I really think we’re helped a lot by the tariff situation that’s going on, which is a good situation… it’s going to be legendary, you watch.”
The president’s comments come just ahead of his administration’s rollout of higher import duties, including a steep 104% tariff on Chinese goods. The policy, which takes full effect Wednesday, is part of Trump’s broader “reciprocal” trade agenda, aimed at pressuring countries with large trade surpluses to offer better terms to the US.
The White House has said the tariffs are intended to address long-standing trade imbalances and revive domestic manufacturing. Trump insists the measures are already benefiting the US economy, claiming the country is collecting $2 billion a day in tariff revenue.
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