US President Donald Trump suspended the introduction of duties after communicating with representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Commerce. About it writes The Wall Street Journal with reference to sources.
According to the interlocutors of the publication, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick persuaded the President to soften the tariff policy, while Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro on the contrary – favoured the preservation of a rigid course. Navarro, however, was not briefed on the president’s conversation with cabinet members, according to sources.
After speaking with the ministers, Trump announced on Truth Social that he would suspend some of the duties.
The Wall Street Journal notes that the imposition of the tariffs on 2 April triggered a crash in stock markets and set off alarm bells at the White House.
Representatives of Bessent and Lutnick said their teams are actively working to implement Trump’s agenda to support Americans, and called reports of a conversation with the president about the duties untrue.
Navarro accused the anonymous sources of trying to sow discord within Trump’s team.
The Wall Street Journal also points out that the alliance between Bessent and Lute shows how rapidly the White House is changing under Trump. During the transition period between the election and inauguration, they both vied for the Treasury Secretary position. Bessent won, despite objections from the head of the Government Efficiency Department, Ilon Musk. Lute eventually won the job as head of the Department of Commerce.
On 2 April, Trump announced the imposition of duties on most of the United States’ trading partners. In particular, he announced that a 20 per cent duty would be applied to goods from European Union member states.
On 9 April, the American president postponed for 90 days the introduction of duties against more than 75 countries, while raising duties for China to 145%. China soon announced another increase in import duties on US goods to 125%. The EU delayed imposing 25% duties on US goods for 90 days.
The administration of US President Donald Trump wants to conclude 90 trade agreements in 90 days – the imposition of duties on more than 75 countries has been postponed for this period.