Tariffs could be pushed back beyond July

The U.S. government may push back the July 9 deadline for higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries to take effect, the White House said Thursday.

Asked about these import surcharges, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the reprieve "could perhaps be extended." "But that's up to the president to make that decision," she added. In the name of defending domestic production, US President Donald Trump has imposed sector-specific tariffs on steel and aluminum since returning to the White House.

But since April, it has also targeted dozens of US trading partners with prohibitive rates, before reversing course and suspending them until July 9, while trade negotiations continue. "The deadline is not final," Karoline Leavitt assured Thursday.

According to her, "the president can simply offer a deal to these countries if they refuse to offer us one by the deadline." This means that Donald Trump can "choose a reciprocal tariff rate that he deems advantageous for the United States," she added.

Regarding the progress of trade negotiations, Ms. Leavitt assured that the White House Trade Representative (USTR), Jamieson Greer, "is working very hard" and has had "good, productive discussions with many of our major trading partners."