• White House trade adviser Peter Navarro confirms multiple trade deals are in the works, with the EU as a top priority.
  • The administration's hardline stance on China continues, including closing the "de minimis" duty exemption.
  • Navarro's return underscores the administration's focus on aggressive trade policies, including tariffs and border adjustment taxes.

Navarro's Trade Push Gains Momentum

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has signaled that the Trump administration is actively pursuing new trade agreements, with the European Union now "very high on the priority list." The comments, made during a May 9 Bloomberg Surveillance interview, come just days after Navarro praised the recently struck UK trade deal as "the first step to stopping foreign 'cheating.'"

Sources familiar with the matter say negotiations with Brussels could begin as early as June, though EU officials remain cautious about potential sticking points, particularly around agricultural exports and digital services. The administration’s aggressive tariff strategy—including recent steel and aluminum levies—has left some trading partners wary.

Hardline on China Persists

Navarro, a key architect of the administration’s trade policy, hasn’t softened his stance on China. The closure of the "de minimis" loophole, which allowed duty-free imports of Chinese goods under $800, marks another escalation. "We’re done being exploited," Navarro said last week, reiterating his call for "decoupling" from China to protect U.S. intellectual property.

Market analysts note that while the UK deal offers short-term optimism, the broader trade landscape remains volatile. "The administration is playing multidimensional chess," said one Wall Street strategist who requested anonymity. "But the risk of retaliatory measures, especially from the EU, could dampen gains."

What’s Next?

With Navarro back in a central role, expect more unilateral moves—tariffs, export controls, and potentially even a push for the long-discussed border adjustment tax. Whether the EU talks gain traction may depend on how quickly both sides can move past posturing. As one Brussels-based trade lawyer put it: "Everyone’s waiting to see if this is real negotiation or just more theater."