“Tariff-hit countries dying to make a deal,” says Donald Trump

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that countries affected by US tariffs are eager to negotiate and make deals with him,  offering to do anything to secure an agreement.

While speaking at the National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump said he was a better negotiator than Congress.

He said, “I’m telling you- these countries are calling us up, kissing my a**. They are dying to make a deal- ‘please sir make a deal, I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything sir'”.

Trump’s comments were made in the context of his administration’s tariff policies, particularly with countries like China. He emphasized his ability to negotiate better deals than Congress, citing China’s 104% tariffs as an example.

He added that although some ‘rebel’ Republicans argue that he must allow Congress to make a deal, he believed that if that were the case, China wouldn’t have been slapped with 104 per cent tariffs, and vice versa.

“I’ll see some rebel Republicans that want to grandstand say, ‘I think that Congress should take over negotiations.’ Let me tell you, you don’t negotiate like I negotiate,” he said.

Trump expressed skepticism about Congress’s ability to negotiate effectively, suggesting that their involvement would lead to unfavorable outcomes for the US.

“Congress takes over negotiating to sell America fast because you’re going to go busted. I just saw it today. A couple of your congressmen said, ‘I think we should get involved in the negotiation of the tariffs, ‘” he mocked.

Trump said that Congress’s negotiations would make China the happiest, as China would not have to pay any tariffs; the US would pay them instead!

“Oh, that’s what I need- I need some guy telling me how to negotiate. I tell you, the happiest people in the world would be Chinese. They wouldn’t be paying 104 per cent. I tell, they’d be paying no per cent [instead] we’d be paying them 104 per cent,” he said.

Trump also announced plans to impose significant tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector, aiming to encourage companies to establish manufacturing facilities in the US.

“Tariffs on pharma will be there because we don’t make our own pharma drugs; they are made in another country. The same packet in the US is priced at USD 10 or more. We are going to tariff pharma in such a way that companies will come rushing to us very soon. The advantage we have is, we are very big market. Very shortly, will announce a major tariff on pharma, and when these companies hear that, they will leave China and other countries because most of their products are sold here. And, they will be opening their plants here,” Trump said.