Let’s take a moment to break this down together. Back in late April, President Donald Trump made a bold claim: he had completed trade deals with 200 countries after just 100 days in office. That announcement came as part of what he called “Liberation Day,” referring to the day the U.S. would take back control of its economy through new tariffs and trade agreements.
But now, more than two months later, the reality is very different. As of today, only three trade deals have been announced—one with China, one with the United Kingdom, and one with Vietnam. That’s a far cry from 200.
What happened to the rest?
Originally, Trump gave the world a deadline—July 9—to either agree to a new trade deal or face higher “reciprocal” tariffs. But as the deadline approached, it became clear that negotiating with nearly every country on the planet takes time. So, the administration pushed that deadline back to August 1 to allow for more negotiations, especially with countries like those in the European Union.
The European union talks are heating up
Talks with the EU are progressing and could lead to a major agreement. The proposed deal would include 10% tariffs and a framework for further discussions. The two sides have made progress on issues like auto tariffs, steel, and specific exemptions for key industries. EU negotiators are currently briefing member countries and believe this is the best way to avoid steep tariffs that would otherwise kick in August 1.
Still, everything hinges on Trump’s final approval.
Other countries in the mix
Beyond the EU, there are a few other countries making progress:
- India was seen as a strong candidate for a deal but has recently toughened its position.
- South Korea was in serious talks, but Trump’s recent 25% auto tariff letter seems to have disrupted the process.
- Japan appears to be backing away from a deal after Trump announced more tariffs, which their Prime Minister said they “deeply regret.”
- Brazil, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand have submitted substantial proposals in hopes of sealing deals before more tariffs hit.
So, while there’s a lot of movement behind the scenes, actual signed trade deals remain very limited.
Why the delays?
One major issue, according to foreign officials, is that the U.S. hasn’t clearly explained what it wants in these deals. That lack of clarity—along with Trump’s unpredictable tariff threats—has made it harder to reach final agreements.
Plus, many countries are struggling with Trump’s tariffs on autos, steel, and pharmaceuticals, which he refuses to soften without major concessions.
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So, what’s the score?
Despite the big announcement in April, Trump has only finalized three trade deals so far. Many more are in talks, but delays, tough negotiating positions, and rising tensions make it unclear how many will get done by the August 1 deadline.
Until then, countries are scrambling—and so is Trump’s team—to avoid a global tariff war.
