Schumer Criticizes Trump’s Trade Deal Promises
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York recently called out President Trump for failing to deliver on a significant trade promise. Trump had pledged to sign 90 trade deals in just 90 days, but according to Schumer, he’s nowhere near that goal.
“Three months ago, Donald Trump promised that his tariffs would result in 90 deals in 90 days,” Schumer stated on the Senate floor. “He’s been promising left and right, but I doubt he actually plans to follow through. Yet, it’s really the American people who care about these promises.”
According to Schumer’s assessment, Trump is short by about 88 trade deals.
On July 2, Trump did announce a trade agreement with Vietnam, along with an agreement with the UK to reduce tariffs on British cars, steel, and aluminum in return for a decrease in imports from the US.
In a recent statement, Trump indicated that tariffs would escalate from 25% to 40% for 14 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia, unless certain transactions are finalized by August 1.
“What does Trump do? He just keeps kicking the can down the road. He talks a big game, but lacks a coherent strategy to truly protect American interests,” Schumer remarked on Wednesday.
Republican senators, on the other hand, expressed hope that the Trump administration can expedite trade transactions, while also cautioning that forging trade agreements is complex and takes time.
Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma and a member of the Senate Treasury Committee, mentioned he’s in touch with the US Trade Representative and Treasury Department, expecting more announcements soon.
“There are several ongoing negotiations I’m directly involved in, so work is happening,” he said. However, Lankford also conceded that many agreements may not be finalized by the August deadline, emphasizing the need for a “resolution” to manage the lengthy consultation processes.
“We need to find a resolution to understand how much longer it will take for the remaining deals,” he added, referencing those that won’t be ready this month.
