Deadline Diplomacy - How Trump Puts His Trade Partners Under Pressure

Donald Trump is ramping up the pressure - relying once again on the familiar mix of threats, ultimatums, and public displays of power. By Wednesday, all countries that trade with the United States are expected to sign new agreements. Otherwise, they will receive formal notification of new, higher U.S. tariffs - effective August 1. That is the message from the White House, which is once again trying to achieve foreign policy results through economic coercion. The announcement was not unexpected, but the speed and severity with which it is now being implemented were surprising. Starting Monday, the first letters warning of tariffs are to be sent to foreign governments. At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in a television interview Monday morning that “several new trade framework agreements” would be presented within the next 48 hours. Trump's goal, Bessent said, is not the number but the “quality of the deals.” His inbox is said to be “full of new offers,” triggered by the threat of rolling back tariffs to the level of April 2 - the day Trump announced a sweeping increase in import duties to 10 to 25 percent.

As the U.S. rushes toward new trade deals, international resistance is mounting. The BRICS nations - a bloc composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - jointly condemned the latest U.S. tariff plans and the airstrikes on Iran on Sunday. Although the name “Trump” was avoided in their final declaration, the tone was unmistakable. Israel was also criticized for its military actions in the Middle East - Russia, by contrast, was spared entirely, and Ukraine was mentioned only in passing. Meanwhile, China sought to portray the BRICS group as a platform for “openness, inclusion, and win-win cooperation.” The organization is “not directed against any particular country,” a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday. Trump appeared unimpressed - and declared on his social media platform that any country aligning itself with “anti-American BRICS policies” would face an additional 10 percent punitive tariff. The second day of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro is thus likely to be far more tense than originally planned.

Tensions are also rising on the domestic front. The simmering conflict between Trump and Elon Musk escalated dramatically over the weekend - with noticeable effects on the markets. Tesla stock fell by 6.5 percent after Musk publicly announced that he would be founding his own third party. The background is the intra-party dispute over Trump’s budget and spending policies. Musk, once one of Trump's most important donors and supporters, criticized the recent legislative packages as “irresponsible” and “economically toxic.” Trump fired back on Truth Social, saying Musk had “completely gone off track” in recent weeks. As if that weren’t enough, Trump also announced a visit to the flood disaster zone in Texas on Friday. Severe storms over the Independence Day weekend claimed at least 82 lives there, including many participants in a Christian summer camp. At least a dozen girls remain missing. Trump stated that he would “probably be there on Friday” - but the exact timing would still be coordinated with security agencies. What remains is the image of a president fighting on multiple fronts - against international alliances, economic dependencies, former allies, and the political reality of a deeply divided nation. Trump’s deadline diplomacy, as it is unfolding these days, is less a reflection of traditional foreign policy than a mirror of his presidency: loud, confrontational, transactional - and fraught with risks.