Just before closing markets on Monday afternoon Donald Trump invited journalists to the Oval Office. The president of the United States accepted the Prime Minister of Israel Binjamina Netanyahu And he wanted to send a message. Morning Equity markets Around the world, it fell rapidly due to the fact that Trump and his advisors only gave messages about absolute uncompromisingness. As a result, US markets besides opened red.
When news came that Trump was considering a 90-day tariff postponement to negotiate, stock prices went up. Just half an hr later, they fell again after the White home rejected this study as false. However, this explained what the markets needed to communicate. In the end Trump said the duties would stay in place. Without conviction, he signalled that he was open to negotiations.
Netanjahu was the first abroad guest to meet Trump personally after he announced duties. The Israeli government declared on the weekend that it wanted to abolish all duties on American imports. It was so clear that Netanyahu intends to talk about trade as well as the war in Gaza and the conflict with Iran.
However, no agreement was reached during the almost two-hour meeting. "We'll talk about it," said Trump erstwhile he was asked to comment by journalists. This did not mean, however, that Israel would be adopted as the country already receives "billion dollars a year".
Trump doesn't want to compromise.
Like this. Trump dispelled all hopes for a fast end to customs chaos. Israel, as 1 of Washington’s closest allies, should come to an agreement comparatively easily. But that wasn't the message Trump wanted to send on Monday.
Of course, he was pleased that "almost all country wants to negotiate". However, this does not mean that the agreement will be reached with all. "There will be fair deals," Trump said. But not for everyone. "Some will pay crucial duties," he added.
Israel’s example clearly showed that far - reaching offers from another countries do not automatically put Trump in a mild mood. EU also offered on Monday the complete abolition of all duties on industrial products. "We have offered zero tariffs for industrial goods, as we have already done with many another partners," said the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Europe is always ready for a good deal.
However, the offer was "insufficient," Trump stated. Its nonsubjective was to destruct the trade deficit from the EU. He then straight mentioned 1 of the ways in which it could be done. “You can buy our energy,” added the president of the United States.
He besides declared that non-tariff trade barriers, specified as monetary rules or policies, would be subject to possible negotiations. By making specified demands, the American president makes it clear that he is not prepared for fast concessions.
“This is only the beginning”
The markets reacted ambivalently on Monday. Dow Jones' leading American index closed over 300 points down. S&P500 ended the day with a slight drop after a crazy roller coaster ride while the Nasdaq Technology Index ended the day with a slight increase.
Uncertainty was fueled by the fact that Trump's opinions were influenced by advisors who were fighting for power behind the scenes. For example, the Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent leads a group of negotiators. Trump instructed him to "open negotiations to prosecute a imagination of the golden age for global trade," he wrote on X, announcing talks with Japan.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFPU.S. president Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu in the White House, 7 April 2025.
Counselor Kevin Hassett besides spoke on FoxNews air of a keen desire to talk in the White House. “Trump will perceive to our partners if they come to us with a deal that will aid American workers,” he said.
At the same time, the Financial Times featured a guest article by a commercial consultant Peter Navarro: " Donald Trump's fares will fix a broken system". This is an emergency, not a negotiation. "World leaders who abruptly offer tariff cuts after decades of cheating should know that this is only the beginning," Navarro wrote.
Shortly thereafter, Elon Musk attacked Trump's advisor on X. “He built the g***o,” he wrote. However, Musk later removed this post.
Trump's mediate East Plan
Netanjah's visit was overshadowed not only by the tariff shock Trump caused Israel. The mediate East has besides become a subject of discussion due to the fact that The situation in the Gaza Strip has rekindled. Trump's negotiator, Steve Witkoff, negotiated a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip before the president of the United States took office, which would lead to a peace plan.
This agreement brought Trump a triumph in abroad policy before 20 January. However, Since mid-March, the Israeli army has been bombing Gaza again. According to Palestinian reports, hundreds of civilians, including many children, were killed and injured. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic. The hostage agreement has been suspended. A fresh agreement is presently under way,” Netanyahu claimed in the Oval Office.
Unlike his predecessor Joe Biden Trump, he does not effort to dissuade Netanyahu from his hard-ass approach to Hamas. Instead, The president of the United States announced during a February visit by Netanyahu that the United States wants to take over the Gaza StripAnd the Palestinians who live there won't be able to return.
Part of the mediate east policy discussed by Trump and Netanjah is besides joint action against Iran. The president of the United States announced that on Saturday there would be direct talks between Washington and Tehran. As he added, this will be a high-level meeting. At the same time, Trump threatened with military blows, and the Pentagon is working on expanding the number of US troops in the region. "If the talks fail, Iran will be in large danger," Trump threatened.
