"I'm open to something like that": Trump suddenly ready for "deals" on tariffs

Astrid Lund - Betty MacDonald fan club organizer: "Trump is ridiculing U.S. policy with his senseless threats and ensuring that more and more consumers around the world are no longer buying U.S. products! Tesla sends its regards!"------------------ n-tv "I'm open to something like that": Trump suddenly ready for "deals" on tariffs 4 hrs. • A few days ago, Trump announced higher tariffs on car imports. They are due to take effect soon – and are causing German automakers to tremble. Now the U.S. President is surprisingly open to "deals" to avert the tariffs. Great Britain has already taken the first step. U.S. President Donald Trump is ready for "deals" with countries that want to avoid U.S. tariffs. Trump told reporters this on Friday aboard the presidential aircraft, Air Force One. However, the so-called reciprocal tariffs will be announced first on April 2nd. Trump said countries like Great Britain have approached the US to negotiate "deals" and avoid reciprocal tariffs. "They want to negotiate a deal. That's possible if we can get something for the deal," Trump explained. "Yes, I'm certainly open to that. We can do something if we can get something for it." Asked whether such deals could be reached before April 2, Trump said, "No, probably later. It's a process." He also announced that he would soon introduce tariffs targeting the pharmaceutical industry. Reciprocal tariffs, i.e., counter-tariffs designed to offset differences in surcharges imposed by other countries on imports from the US, have so far been planned for certain product groups. "In a trade conflict, there are only losers." In addition, additional US tariffs of 25 percent on car imports are set to go into effect next week. The US auto industry association AAI warns of negative consequences. "Additional tariffs will increase costs for American consumers, reduce the total number of vehicles sold in the US, and reduce US auto exports – all before any new manufacturing facilities or jobs are created in this country," said John Bozzella, head of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. The AAI represents numerous automakers, including industry giants such as General Motors, Volkswagen, and Toyota. Current German Finance Minister Jörg Kukies also warns the US against an escalation of the trade conflict with Europe. "Higher tariffs hit German automakers and the entire German economy particularly hard. But they also harm the US economy because they make imports more expensive and raise prices for US consumers," the SPD politician said after talks in Washington. The EU will continue to work on measures to protect the domestic economy. "But it is also clear that there are only losers in a trade conflict. We must therefore continue to engage in dialogue with the US and seek solutions together to avoid an escalation." According to the Ministry of Finance, the special tariffs on car imports from Europe, which the US government had just imposed, were the focus of Kukies's talks. He met with his US counterpart, Scott Bessent, and other representatives of the US administration on Friday. According to the Ministry of Finance, the discussion focused primarily on the priorities of economic and financial policy in Germany and the US, the issue of competitiveness, and bilateral cooperation.