On Tuesday, the White House announced that the United States has received trade proposals from 18 countries, and there is a potential trade agreement in the air with China as well. That brings the total up to 100 different countries who are seeking a trade deal with the U.S.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump granted a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, with the exception of China, to give other countries a chance to negotiate new deals. Despite the critics of this tactic, it is working.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she’d spoken with the administration’s trade team, which included: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Trump’s Senior Advisor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro.
“There is a lot of progress being made,” Leavitt began. “We now have 18 proposals on paper that have been brought to the trade team. Again, these are proposals on paper that countries have proposed to the Trump administration and to our government.
She said, “You have Secretary Bessent, Secretary Lutnick, Ambassador Greer, NEC Director Hassett and Peter Navarro, the entire trade team meeting with 34 countries this week alone. We are moving at Trump speed to ensure these deals are made on behalf of the American worker and the American people.”
BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt announces the White House is meeting with 34 COUNTRIES this week to negotiate trade deals
There are already 18 proposals on paper.
GUESS WHO’S NOT MEETING TRUMP?
Australia.
Albo can’t even get a return call & lies about it.
— Aus Integrity (@QBCCIntegrity) April 22, 2025
White she didn’t offer details on the current 18 countries offering trade deals, she did reveal negotiations with China.
“I asked the president about this before coming out here, and he wanted me to share with all of you that we’re doing very well in respect to a potential trade deal with China,” Leavitt announced, noting that there have not been any direct communication between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “As I mentioned, there have now been 18 proposals and more than 100 countries around the world who are wanting to make a deal with the United States of America, and the president and the administration are setting the stage for a deal with China.
“So, we feel everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen, and the ball is moving in the right direction,” she continued. “And just yesterday, it seemed to get a little bit lost in the news, and I think it’s a disservice to the American public that it did.”
Leavitt said, “The vice president announced terms of reference for a trade deal with India. That is a big deal. We know when we look at the numbers, the monetary trade barriers and the nonmonetary trade barriers from India, they have been ripping off the United States and American workers for a very long time.”
She added, “So, the fact that the vice president, with Prime Minister Modi on that trip in India, announced these terms of reference, which is essentially a framework to move the ball forward to sign a good trade deal between our two nations, is great progress, and it speaks to the work ethic and the real labor that’s being put into this effort by the president’s trade team.”