By Nicole Silverio, Daily Caller News Foundation | April 28, 2025
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked press secretary Karoline Leavitt Monday what the “hold up” is with disclosing details about President Donald Trump’s trade proposals.
Leavitt said during a Tuesday briefing that the Trump administration has received “18 proposals on paper” by foreign countries in order to negotiate tariffs, and administration officials have said that over 200 countries have reached out to Trump to make deals. The press secretary told Doocy that there is “no hold up,” and that the president will likely update the public on the U.S.’ trade deals later in the week.
“You guys have at least 18 written trade proposals. We still don’t know who they are from or what they contain. What is the hold up with that?” Doocy asked.
“There is no hold up. We’re working around the clock. The trade team is working all day, I was on the phone last night with [Commerce] Secretary [Howard] Lutnick. I was on the phone this weekend as well with [Treasury] Secretary [Scott] Bessent. I mean, the entire team is working 24/7 to get these trade deals done and I think you’ll be hearing more about them this week. I don’t want to get ahead of the president in announcing potential deals, but certainly, I can assure the American public that this administration is full speed ahead in cutting good and fair trade deal on behalf of the American worker.”
In an April 9 Truth Social post, the president announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on all countries except China in order to leave room for trade negotiations. Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that negotiations over a potential trade deal with South Korea is in progress, adding that it has gone “faster” than he expected.
Trump also said on April 22 that he will “substantially” lower the exceptionally high tariffs on China, though Chinese officials disputed that they are participating in negotiation talks with the U.S. Leavitt said during a Wednesday Fox News appearance that there will be “no unilateral reduction in tariffs” on China, meaning the country must negotiate with the U.S. in order to see a reduction in tariffs.
Bessent further confirmed on April 22 that there will be a “de-escalation” in Trump’s trade war with China.
After Trump’s initial tariff announcement on April 2, the U.S. entered a trade war with China after the country retaliated with steep tariffs of its own, causing the nation to face tariffs of up to 245%, the White House said on April 15.
Nicole Silverio is a media reporter at the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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