Contents of Trade 'Proposals on Paper' Sent to White House Vary, Sources Say
Despite claims from the Trump administration boasting about various potential trade deals, foreign officials indicate that the discussions are significantly more tentative.
TroibNews 
White House officials have highlighted that more than a dozen countries have presented offers “on the table” to circumvent the steep tariffs set to be implemented in just over two months, indicating that President Donald Trump’s bold trade strategy may be yielding results.
However, the proposals submitted by other nations to the White House are far from final positions, as indicated by a group of foreign diplomats and three unnamed officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. Instead, these documents are preliminary frameworks outlining what these countries are prepared to discuss in upcoming trade negotiations, a prerequisite established by the Trump administration for any continued dialogue.
Some trading partners are expressing reluctance to even provide an outline of their terms without clearer guidance from the U.S. regarding Trump's goals for the negotiations.
"They are hesitant to negotiate against themselves,” explained one industry official who has been briefed on the intentions of foreign countries. “If countries are setting the parameters for what the negotiations are, and not the administration with concrete asks, it’s a little bit like they're setting themselves up.”
These dynamics highlight ongoing confusion and suspicion regarding Trump's ultimate objectives concerning the reciprocal tariffs he imposed on over 60 trading partners earlier this month, before pausing all but the tariffs on China for 90 days. Although the White House exudes confidence that the looming threat of tariffs is luring numerous countries to engage in discussions and will yield substantial trade concessions, foreign officials privately express that such conversations are tentative, raising doubts about what agreements can be finalized by the administration's self-imposed July 8 deadline.
Despite the temporary moratorium on reciprocal tariffs, the U.S. economic forecast is under strain due to the existing tariffs on China, autos, steel, and aluminum, increasing pressure on the White House to demonstrate progress in trade negotiations. In response, top advisors, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, have pointed to various “pieces of paper” received from other nations proposing to ease their trade barriers in order to avoid the reinstatement of higher U.S. tariffs.
“There are pieces of paper going back and forth as countries come in and make suggestions on what they can do to have more reciprocal trade,” Greer mentioned in an April 11 appearance on Fox News.
Trump claimed last week that he has already finalized 200 trade deals—more than the number of recognized countries. Nonetheless, the White House clarified that it has focused its attention on “proposals on paper” from approximately 17 or 18 nations.
A White House spokesperson did not comment on the characterizations of these proposals from foreign diplomats.
Privately, White House officials concede that the documents they are receiving from other countries serve primarily as a framework for future negotiations, building off a “term sheet” the administration requires from each partner. By promoting agreements centered around further talks, the White House can demonstrate progress while gaining additional time for the complicated and lengthy process of crafting detailed trade deals.
A USTR official noted that some countries have come to the U.S. with papers outlining how they wish to proceed, a process deemed “very normal” for the initiation of negotiations.
“Others have asked how to move forward, and we have suggested that they provide us with their ideas on paper, and we have given specific and detailed guidance on various areas where progress would be helpful,” the official elaborated.
Prior to announcing its reciprocal tariff rates on April 2, the administration had already begun requesting trading partners to delineate their priorities regarding tariff levels, non-tariff barriers, technology and digital trade rules, and investment opportunities to shape the framework for upcoming negotiations, according to two diplomats familiar with the request.
“The message is, ‘Who goes first gets the advantage,’” a source with knowledge of the negotiations remarked, requesting anonymity due to the unavailability of official comment.
Vice President JD Vance recently celebrated an agreement with India on “terms of reference” for trade talks, effectively establishing parameters for more in-depth negotiations. The White House has suggested that India could be the first to formalize what officials have described as a “memorandum of understanding” or broad “architecture” for future negotiations—acknowledged as a process that might take weeks or months.
“India’s coming along great. I think we’ll have a deal with India,” Trump stated Tuesday before departing for Michigan on Marine One.
Yet, some nations have expressed doubts regarding the feasibility of reaching such general agreements at the rapid pace stipulated by Trump. While Bessent praised negotiating advancements with South Korean officials last week, South Korean representatives have informed the U.S. that coming to an agreement before the country's elections in June is “theoretically impossible,” according to Reuters.
A White House official confirmed plans for discussions with about 18 countries over the next three weeks, following a rotating schedule—a timeline first detailed by The Wall Street Journal.
One diplomat given the proposed schedule dismissed it, stating, "It's merely a timetable that no one believes. I don't know of anyone that may be taking things more seriously."
The administration has provided its own loose framework for the talks based on proposals from some countries. One trade delegation recently met with senior Trump officials and received a “sample agreement”—a document outlining the White House’s preferred trade terms intended to pre-set potential outcomes, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
The White House appears to have established one firm boundary: it will not reduce the 10 percent universal tariff implemented on April 5. A White House official confirmed the administration views these baseline tariffs as separate from negotiations concerning “reciprocal” tariffs.
However, diplomats from several countries have expressed uncertainty about what concessions would satisfy the White House and how much of an impact they would have on the extensive tariff agenda imposed by Trump on a majority of nations and key industries.
EU officials, notably, described their negotiations with the U.S. as still in the “scoping” phase, aiming to clarify the administration’s demands and whether it would consider reducing the 25 percent tariffs currently levied on automobiles, steel, and aluminum.
The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the EU's 27 member nations, has been collaborating with Washington on a term sheet to provide a framework for discussions, which could include potential concessions such as easing regulations, lowering specific tariffs, or increasing investments in energy or defense.
“To be frank, it's still not completely clear what the U.S. really wants,” noted one European diplomat, who characterized the talks as still in the discussion stage. “So we are still trying to figure out what are the real priorities from the U.S.”
“Europe coming up with offers would be a fucking mistake. Americans don’t want to negotiate,” said an EU diplomat. “It’s about strategic patience: let’s not push things and let [themselves] stew.”
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
However, the proposals submitted by other nations to the White House are far from final positions, as indicated by a group of foreign diplomats and three unnamed officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. Instead, these documents are preliminary frameworks outlining what these countries are prepared to discuss in upcoming trade negotiations, a prerequisite established by the Trump administration for any continued dialogue.
Some trading partners are expressing reluctance to even provide an outline of their terms without clearer guidance from the U.S. regarding Trump's goals for the negotiations.
"They are hesitant to negotiate against themselves,” explained one industry official who has been briefed on the intentions of foreign countries. “If countries are setting the parameters for what the negotiations are, and not the administration with concrete asks, it’s a little bit like they're setting themselves up.”
These dynamics highlight ongoing confusion and suspicion regarding Trump's ultimate objectives concerning the reciprocal tariffs he imposed on over 60 trading partners earlier this month, before pausing all but the tariffs on China for 90 days. Although the White House exudes confidence that the looming threat of tariffs is luring numerous countries to engage in discussions and will yield substantial trade concessions, foreign officials privately express that such conversations are tentative, raising doubts about what agreements can be finalized by the administration's self-imposed July 8 deadline.
Despite the temporary moratorium on reciprocal tariffs, the U.S. economic forecast is under strain due to the existing tariffs on China, autos, steel, and aluminum, increasing pressure on the White House to demonstrate progress in trade negotiations. In response, top advisors, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, have pointed to various “pieces of paper” received from other nations proposing to ease their trade barriers in order to avoid the reinstatement of higher U.S. tariffs.
“There are pieces of paper going back and forth as countries come in and make suggestions on what they can do to have more reciprocal trade,” Greer mentioned in an April 11 appearance on Fox News.
Trump claimed last week that he has already finalized 200 trade deals—more than the number of recognized countries. Nonetheless, the White House clarified that it has focused its attention on “proposals on paper” from approximately 17 or 18 nations.
A White House spokesperson did not comment on the characterizations of these proposals from foreign diplomats.
Privately, White House officials concede that the documents they are receiving from other countries serve primarily as a framework for future negotiations, building off a “term sheet” the administration requires from each partner. By promoting agreements centered around further talks, the White House can demonstrate progress while gaining additional time for the complicated and lengthy process of crafting detailed trade deals.
A USTR official noted that some countries have come to the U.S. with papers outlining how they wish to proceed, a process deemed “very normal” for the initiation of negotiations.
“Others have asked how to move forward, and we have suggested that they provide us with their ideas on paper, and we have given specific and detailed guidance on various areas where progress would be helpful,” the official elaborated.
Prior to announcing its reciprocal tariff rates on April 2, the administration had already begun requesting trading partners to delineate their priorities regarding tariff levels, non-tariff barriers, technology and digital trade rules, and investment opportunities to shape the framework for upcoming negotiations, according to two diplomats familiar with the request.
“The message is, ‘Who goes first gets the advantage,’” a source with knowledge of the negotiations remarked, requesting anonymity due to the unavailability of official comment.
Vice President JD Vance recently celebrated an agreement with India on “terms of reference” for trade talks, effectively establishing parameters for more in-depth negotiations. The White House has suggested that India could be the first to formalize what officials have described as a “memorandum of understanding” or broad “architecture” for future negotiations—acknowledged as a process that might take weeks or months.
“India’s coming along great. I think we’ll have a deal with India,” Trump stated Tuesday before departing for Michigan on Marine One.
Yet, some nations have expressed doubts regarding the feasibility of reaching such general agreements at the rapid pace stipulated by Trump. While Bessent praised negotiating advancements with South Korean officials last week, South Korean representatives have informed the U.S. that coming to an agreement before the country's elections in June is “theoretically impossible,” according to Reuters.
A White House official confirmed plans for discussions with about 18 countries over the next three weeks, following a rotating schedule—a timeline first detailed by The Wall Street Journal.
One diplomat given the proposed schedule dismissed it, stating, "It's merely a timetable that no one believes. I don't know of anyone that may be taking things more seriously."
The administration has provided its own loose framework for the talks based on proposals from some countries. One trade delegation recently met with senior Trump officials and received a “sample agreement”—a document outlining the White House’s preferred trade terms intended to pre-set potential outcomes, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
The White House appears to have established one firm boundary: it will not reduce the 10 percent universal tariff implemented on April 5. A White House official confirmed the administration views these baseline tariffs as separate from negotiations concerning “reciprocal” tariffs.
However, diplomats from several countries have expressed uncertainty about what concessions would satisfy the White House and how much of an impact they would have on the extensive tariff agenda imposed by Trump on a majority of nations and key industries.
EU officials, notably, described their negotiations with the U.S. as still in the “scoping” phase, aiming to clarify the administration’s demands and whether it would consider reducing the 25 percent tariffs currently levied on automobiles, steel, and aluminum.
The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the EU's 27 member nations, has been collaborating with Washington on a term sheet to provide a framework for discussions, which could include potential concessions such as easing regulations, lowering specific tariffs, or increasing investments in energy or defense.
“To be frank, it's still not completely clear what the U.S. really wants,” noted one European diplomat, who characterized the talks as still in the discussion stage. “So we are still trying to figure out what are the real priorities from the U.S.”
“Europe coming up with offers would be a fucking mistake. Americans don’t want to negotiate,” said an EU diplomat. “It’s about strategic patience: let’s not push things and let [themselves] stew.”
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
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