US President Donald Trump signaled on Sunday that he may not need to extend the self-imposed July 9 trade deadline for countries seeking to avoid higher US tariffs—but left the door open for adjustments.
“I don’t think I’ll need to,” Trump told Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo in an interview taped Friday. Still, he added, “I could, no big deal,” suggesting the timeline is not rigid.
The remarks come just days after Trump stated the administration could “do whatever we want” with the deadline, including shortening it or issuing immediate tariff increases. “I’d like to make it shorter. I’d like to just send letters out to everybody, ‘Congratulations, you’re paying 25%,’” he told reporters on Friday.
Earlier this year, the Trump team outlined an aggressive strategy to revamp US trade relations, aiming to slash trade deficits and dismantle trade barriers. As of now, the administration claims it is in discussions with dozens of trading partners.
However, questions remain about how many agreements will be finalized by the July 9 cutoff, when Trump’s April 2 tariffs on certain countries are set to resume. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged the challenge of the timeline, stating that while “we have countries approaching us with very good deals,” not all may be completed in time.
“If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18 — there are another important 20 relationships — then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day,” Bessent said on Fox Business.
Even so, the scope and impact of the proposed trade deals remain uncertain. Trump has frequently pointed to the UK pact as a model for success, yet key issues are still unresolved. Similarly, a recently announced accord with China leaves gaps around fentanyl control and US access to Chinese markets.
India may be one of the countries nearing a deal, with Indian trade officials recently holding negotiations in Washington.
As the July 9 deadline approaches, observers are watching closely to see whether Trump follows through with the 25% tariffs or opts for a more staggered, diplomatic approach.
