President Donald Trump’s administration aims to strike 90 trade deals in 90 days, but experts say this goal is overly ambitious and unlikely to succeed. The challenge lies not only in negotiating multiple deals simultaneously but also in reassuring financial markets, which have been increasingly spooked by fears of recession and inflation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be absent from negotiations with the European Union on Monday, as he is in Buenos Aires supporting Argentina’s economic reforms. This absence has raised doubts about the administration’s ability to manage complex trade talks. Wendy Cutler, a former U.S. Trade Representative chief negotiator, stated that “teeing up these decisions” will require significant negotiations and that it’s unlikely the administration can reach comprehensive agreements with multiple countries during this timeframe.
Despite these challenges, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is optimistic about the team’s chances. He believes that Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick can accomplish the task. However, Trump will remain a key player in all negotiations, as “nothing is done without him looking very carefully at it.”
The administration’s priority now is to show quick wins and regain confidence in financial markets. Investors have been selling U.S. Treasury debt this week, leading to higher interest rates and a lower dollar value. The recent turmoil has put pressure on the Trump team to conclude agreements with countries and instill market confidence.
Reaching trade deals that satisfy both Trump and financial markets is considered a “huge task.” Cutler suggests that the administration will have to prioritize key countries and extend the 90-day pause for others. Even small deals took over eight months to finalize, highlighting the complexity of trade negotiations.
The logistics of coordinating 90 sets of negotiations are just one hurdle for the administration, which faces additional challenges such as unfilled key positions and uncertain U.S. positions on trade matters. The lack of clear talking points and differing views among top Trump trade advisers only adds to the complexity.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-trade-team-chases-90-deals-90-days-experts-say-good-luck-with-that-2025-04-12