Trump's Trade Talks: Big Promises, Small Results

President Trump made a bold promise in April: 90 deals in 90 days. But as the deadline passed, only two trade agreements were signed. The administration's aggressive tactics have left the global trading system in a state of uncertainty. Businesses are hesitant to make decisions, waiting for clarity on the rules. The administration's approach has been to threaten tariffs and demand concessions. However, many countries are not willing to make one-sided deals. They want something in return. The president has extended the deadline for negotiations, but it's unclear if more deals will be reached.The baseline 10% import tax seems to be here to stay. It's a significant shift in U. S. trade policy. But the reciprocal tariffs are even more disruptive. They go against the long-standing rules of world trade. Countries are reluctant to make deals while the U. S. is investigating new tariffs on a range of products. The deal with Vietnam shows that Trump can use the threat of tariffs to get concessions from smaller economies. But bigger trading partners are not so easily intimidated. They want a fair deal, not a surrender. The situation is a standoff. The U. S. is betting that countries will eventually give in. Meanwhile, other countries are hoping that Trump's lack of progress will force him to lower his demands. It's a high-stakes game of chicken.