Nearly 24 hours after he announced sweeping new tariffs that have jolted global markets and sparked recession fears, US President Donald Trump has told reporters he is open to negotiations if a country offers something “phenomenal".

Trump also said the tariffs will put the United States back in the driver’s seat.

Talking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump, when asked if he is negotiating with partners, said, “What we have is a set of tariffs based on what they have been charging us. That’s reciprocal."

“And those tariffs have come in and many countries called us. That’s the beauty of what we do. We put ourselves in the driver’s seat. If we would have asked some of these countries, most of these countries, to do us a favour, they would have said now they’ll do anything for us," Trump said.

“If somebody said they are ready to give you something phenomenal, it’s good," Trump added, on being asked if he would make a deal with countries.

With the statement, the US President contradicted his top aides, who insisted the sweeping tariffs were not a bargaining tactic.

(Earlier, top Trump aide Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the President was not looking to strike deals over the tariffs.)

Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on countries across the board, declaring a 27 per cent “discounted reciprocal tariff" on India.

“This is Liberation Day, a long-awaited moment. 2nd April 2025 will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to make America wealthy again. We are going to make it wealthy, good, and wealthy," Trump said on Thursday in remarks from the Rose Garden at the White House.

“The United States charges other countries only a 2.4 per cent tariff on motorcycles. Meanwhile, Thailand and others are charging much higher rates, like 60 per cent. India charges 70 per cent, Vietnam charges 75 per cent, and others charge even higher rates," he said.

Source: News18