- White House Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett indicates 24 trade deals are nearing resolution.
- The administration continues its aggressive tariff strategy, with recent announcements including the U.S.-UK agreement.
- Hassett defends the approach, citing success in reshoring jobs and production.
Trade Deals in Focus
White House Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has revealed that 24 trade deals are close to being resolved, signaling a potentially significant shift in U.S. trade policy. While specific details on the deals remain undisclosed, the announcement comes amid a flurry of trade activity from the administration, including yesterday's U.S.-UK agreement that provides targeted tariff relief.
Hassett, who has been vocal about the administration's trade strategy, emphasized the deliberate nature of these moves. "President Trump did something last time, looked and saw that it really worked, and now he's doing more of it—a little bit bigger," he said recently. "That's what you should do: test, adjust, and scale up."
Tariff Strategy Defended
The administration's approach has faced criticism over potential supply chain disruptions, but Hassett dismissed these concerns. He noted that while shipping from China decreased temporarily, other countries have filled the gap, with the policies successfully "onshoring jobs, onshoring production." This defense comes as the White House prepares additional tariff announcements, expected imminently according to Hassett's May 1 remarks.
Industry analysts are watching closely to see how these 24 pending deals might complement or complicate existing agreements. The U.S.-UK deal, while not a full free trade agreement, sets a precedent for the kind of targeted, sector-specific agreements that may characterize this batch of resolutions. Attempts to reach Hassett for comment on the specific deals were unsuccessful at press time.