Trump Administration Signals First International Trade Framework Could Land This Week
The White House is indicating that its first post-tariff bilateral trade framework could be announced within days. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on May 4, President Trump said an agreement with “one of several negotiating partners … [could] very well be” announced this week and confirmed that U.S. officials remain in touch with Chinese counterparts, though a broader accord with Beijing is still uncertain.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced that message at the Milken Institute Global Conference on May 5. He told attendees that targeted agreements are intended to complement the administration’s wider tariffs-tax cut-deregulation strategy and singled out an accord with India as “closest” to completion following recent talks in New Delhi.
Bessent also outlined the administration’s three-pillar economic framework in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, including renegotiated trade rules, permanent 2017 tax cuts plus new income-tax relief and an aggressive deregulation agenda, arguing the measures are designed to work in tandem rather than as stand-alone policies.
Market watchers are tracking the timetable closely. FOX Business reported on May 5 that investors are positioning for possible announcements after the S&P 500 notched its longest winning streak in two decades.
NMMA continues to monitor each set of negotiations and will brief members as soon as details of any initial frameworks are released, particularly tariff line items, staging timelines and rules-of-origin. Members with questions or who wish to share cost-impact data for our advocacy efforts should contact Clay Crabtree, Senior Director of Public Policy, at [email protected].
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