Trump officials leading trade negotiations with countries around the world were bullish on the upcoming talks while updating President Donald Trump and his cabinet on Thursday afternoon.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer addressed the trade talks during the meeting as the administration says it is preparing to negotiate with more than 75 countries following Trump’s “90-day pause” on tariffs. While President Trump acknowledged during the cabinet meeting that his aggressive tariff policy would result in “a transition cost and transition problems,” he added, “We think we’re in very good shape.”

Trump’s trade team agreed with his assessment, and Lutnick said he expects “historic deals” to be reached “one after the other.”

“We have so many countries to talk to. It’s incredible,” the Commerce Secretary added. “I’m not sure we could ever have enough time in the day to talk to all these countries because they want to talk and they want to talk now. They have come with offers that they never, ever, ever would’ve come with but for the moves that the president has made demanding that people treat the United States with respect.”

Bessent said that negotiations will be led by the Treasury and Commerce Departments, along with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and the trade team is currently “putting a process in place” to carry out the trade talks.

“As you said, you’re going to be a part of the negotiations too,” Bessent said to Trump. “Because I’ve had these countries call me up [saying], ‘Secretary Bessent, we’re happy you’re going to be negotiating.’ Well, President Trump is going to be involved too, so bring your best deal.”

U.S. Trade Representative Greer argued that Trump’s “reordering of international trade” is a move that hasn’t happened “for 80 years.”

“You came into an emergency situation, where President Biden left us with a $1.2 trillion trade deficit. It’s the largest of any country in human history,” Greer said.

“There’s never been anything like what [Biden] left us,” Trump replied. “He left us a mess. His whole administration was a mess.”

Greer added that while Trump has imposed “a tariff on the world” to “protect American workers,” he has also focused on looking for negotiations with America’s trade partners.

“We’ve had countries come in over the past couple of weeks that represent more than half of global domestic GDP, more than half. That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade,” Greer said. “Wouldn’t have happened without you.”

The White House is expected to meet with Japan and South Korea first, prioritizing America’s closest allies that did not retaliate after Trump imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs last week. White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on Thursday that more than 15 countries already have “specific” trade deal offers for Trump as they seek to avoid the president’s hefty tariffs.

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Trump officials leading trade negotiations with countries around the world were bullish on the upcoming talks while updating President Donald Trump and his cabinet on Thursday afternoon.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer addressed the trade talks during the meeting as the administration says it is preparing to negotiate with more than 75 countries following Trump’s “90-day pause” on tariffs. While President Trump acknowledged during the cabinet meeting that his aggressive tariff policy would result in “a transition cost and transition problems,” he added, “We think we’re in very good shape.”

Trump’s trade team agreed with his assessment, and Lutnick said he expects “historic deals” to be reached “one after the other.”

“We have so many countries to talk to. It’s incredible,” the Commerce Secretary added. “I’m not sure we could ever have enough time in the day to talk to all these countries because they want to talk and they want to talk now. They have come with offers that they never, ever, ever would’ve come with but for the moves that the president has made demanding that people treat the United States with respect.”

Bessent said that negotiations will be led by the Treasury and Commerce Departments, along with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and the trade team is currently “putting a process in place” to carry out the trade talks.

“As you said, you’re going to be a part of the negotiations too,” Bessent said to Trump. “Because I’ve had these countries call me up [saying], ‘Secretary Bessent, we’re happy you’re going to be negotiating.’ Well, President Trump is going to be involved too, so bring your best deal.”

U.S. Trade Representative Greer argued that Trump’s “reordering of international trade” is a move that hasn’t happened “for 80 years.”

“You came into an emergency situation, where President Biden left us with a $1.2 trillion trade deficit. It’s the largest of any country in human history,” Greer said.

“There’s never been anything like what [Biden] left us,” Trump replied. “He left us a mess. His whole administration was a mess.”

Greer added that while Trump has imposed “a tariff on the world” to “protect American workers,” he has also focused on looking for negotiations with America’s trade partners.

“We’ve had countries come in over the past couple of weeks that represent more than half of global domestic GDP, more than half. That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade,” Greer said. “Wouldn’t have happened without you.”

The White House is expected to meet with Japan and South Korea first, prioritizing America’s closest allies that did not retaliate after Trump imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs last week. White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on Thursday that more than 15 countries already have “specific” trade deal offers for Trump as they seek to avoid the president’s hefty tariffs.

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