Donald Trump has since made several dramatic tariff changes. He’s zeroing in on six other countries and advocating for more favorable trade relations with countries in West Africa. At a recent press conference, he declared victory when five countries in West Africa agreed to reduce their tariffs. This action further cements the US’s status as a better partner for trade than China. This news comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is realigning its trade policies. Its other great accomplishment, though, is its treatment of the difficulties in managing potentially fraught international relations.
The president made his announcement as he welcomed West African leaders to the White House. He plans to develop those connections over the course of their lunch meeting. The agenda of these discussions will inevitably address the recent, drastic cuts to U.S. aid in the region. They’ll train them to engage with ongoing trade negotiations. Trump expressed optimism about these diplomatic efforts, saying, “There’s a very good chance of a settlement this week on Gaza,” highlighting his administration’s broader foreign policy objectives.
Trump also made a big show of his commitment to tariff transparency. To help countries prepare, he announced his intentions to release additional letters with advance notice of new, higher tariff rates. He specifically mentioned Brazil, stating, “Brazil, as an example, has not been good to us, not good at all.” He indicated that further details regarding Brazil’s tariff rates would be shared shortly, underscoring the administration’s aggressive approach to trade enforcement.
Just in the past few weeks, Trump threatened to increase tariffs on multiple countries. He’s backtracking and looking to set new rates on the basis of continuing negotiations. He noted that the tariff changes being announced this week are being done with “very, very substantial historic facts” and historical context. This is a compelling example of a rigorous, data friendly, approach to smart trade policy.
During his visit, Trump voiced a desire to strengthen U.S.-Africa relations. He said that he hopes to travel to Africa “at some point” as part of his larger strategy. His outreach to West Africa comes amid challenges faced by the region due to U.S. aid cuts and economic uncertainties.
Below are some of the domestic and international issues touched upon by Trump during the address. He also noted that U.S. interest rates are “at least 3 points too high.” He indicated that further changes would be needed to spark stronger economic growth. In addition, he touted lawsuits his administration has filed against California over school athletic inclusion for trans kids.
Human rights issues were a focal point of the press conference. Trump failed to answer a biting line from independent UN rights experts. These same experts went on to emphasize the need to adhere to international law, which forbids deporting people to places where they may be harmed.