United States President Donald Trump emphasized on Thursday that Washington could soon "set prices" for tariff agreements with other countries if negotiations do not proceed fairly. "They either negotiate a deal or we set a deal that we think is fair," Trump asserted, adding that no country currently refuses to negotiate. He criticized some nations for treating the US unfairly despite receiving American military support.

In an interview with Time magazine, Trump stated he would consider it a "total victory" if the United States maintained up to 50% tariffs within a year, claiming it would bring "billions and billions" in revenue. He argued that tariffs discourage companies from relocating abroad and cited large investment plans from tech giants like Apple and Nvidia as evidence of his policy’s success.

Trump further claimed that his administration has made 200 trade deals since implementing tariffs, although he withheld specifics, promising announcements in the next three to four weeks. He acknowledged that some nations might request adjustments, which he is open to considering. Regarding financial market pressures, Trump revealed he temporarily paused certain tariffs for 90 days to reassess numerical targets.

Separately, Trump announced that the US and Japan are "very close" to finalizing a major trade agreement. Speaking to reporters before departing for Rome to attend Pope Francis' funeral, Trump expressed optimism about achieving multiple strong trade deals soon. Earlier statements from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba indicated Tokyo would not yield to all American demands, although talks remain active.

Meanwhile, the United States Trade Representative's office has prepared a standardized template to guide future negotiations, according to the Wall Street Journal. The draft covers categories such as tariffs, quotas, digital trade, economic security, and non-tariff barriers. Negotiations with 18 major partners are planned through a rapid cycle concluding by July 8.