U.S. Threatens Return of Harsh Tariffs: “You’ve Got 90 Days,” Bessent Warns the World

The United States is ramping up pressure on its trade partners. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that if new trade deals aren’t reached within the next 90 days, the U.S. will reimpose high “reciprocal” tariffs that were originally set on April 2. Washington is bringing back an old weapon in a new trade offensive.

🔥 Ultimatum for 18 Key Countries Speaking on CNN, Bessent confirmed that the Trump administration has started the countdown — either sign trade deals or face tariffs jumping back to as high as 145%. Most duties are currently relaxed to 10%, but Bessent made it clear: America’s patience isn’t infinite. The U.S. is focusing on 18 “important” trade partners. Some deals may be regional, others individual — such as “one for Central America” or “for parts of Africa.” Trump said he’s willing to talk to over 150 countries, but time is running out.

🕒 90-Day Clock Is Ticking — Trump in Abu Dhabi: “Letters Are Coming” Since April 2, when Trump called the tariff introduction “Liberation Day,” the U.S. has granted a temporary trade pause. During a visit to Abu Dhabi, Trump warned that the window is closing. Within a few weeks, Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will begin sending formal letters detailing what countries will pay to do business in the U.S. “It will be fair,” Trump assured. And markets reacted — stocks surged after the U.S. announced a temporary de-escalation with China, lowering tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%. China responded by cutting tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%. The S&P 500 jumped 5.3%, marking five straight days of gains.

🎯 Bessent: Our Strategy? Strategic Uncertainty Bessent defended the administration’s approach of “strategic uncertainty.” Offering too much clarity, he argued, would weaken America’s hand in negotiations. “If you don’t know what’s coming, you take talks more seriously,” he said. He promised that small businesses, especially those reliant on Chinese parts, would still be able to trade under lower tariff conditions. Yet many owners remain anxious, warning that uncertain rules and rising costs are disrupting investments.

🛒 Walmart: We’ll Absorb Some Tariffs, Pass the Rest to Shoppers Retail giant Walmart recently warned customers that prices might go up. Trump responded on Truth Social, urging the company to “eat the tariffs.” Bessent remained pragmatic. He confirmed that he spoke directly with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who agreed that the company would absorb part of the costs, but acknowledged that some would be passed on to consumers.

📉 Moody’s Downgrades the U.S. — Bessent Shrugs It Off On Friday, Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating to Aa1, stripping the country of its final AAA rating. S&P had done so in 2011 and Fitch followed in 2023. Moody’s cited the U.S. debt of $36 trillion and warned that the White House’s budget plan could add another $3.3 trillion over the next decade. But Bessent dismissed the downgrade: “I don’t really trust Moody’s,” he told CNN. Still, analysts caution that a lower rating could force investors to demand higher yields on U.S. bonds — increasing the cost of borrowing and potentially raising rates on mortgages, loans, and global contracts.

🏁 Summary: Washington Turns Up the Heat — Global Trade Partners Have Until Summer America is making its stance clear: Play by our rules or pay more. Bessent’s “strategic uncertainty” may strengthen negotiations, but it’s also injecting tension into global trade talks. While markets are currently optimistic, the threat of revived tariffs looms large.

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