• After announcing the tariff of President TrumpThe administration has claimed an increase in interest from world leaders, who are eager to conclude commercial deals. But after nearly two weeks, no agreements have been signed, and the pressure is rising to end at least one. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent is now promoting the “first engine feature” to encourage rapid negotiations, although global uncertainty and resistance to accelerating decisions have left major allies in the commitment.

In the days after President Trump’s introductory announcement on April 2, members of his administration said that the phones were coming out of the hook as world leaders lined up to reduce new deals.

But the speech is outside Trump’s cabinet began to change Since Trump put a 90 -day stand on the “mutual” definitions on April 9, with Treasury Secretary Scott Pessant is now pressing to pressure At least one agreement through.

Almost two weeks have passed Since the announcement of “Liberation Day” According to what was reported, more than 75 countries contacted the White House to reach new conditions.

Foreign leaders have made it clear that they want to negotiate with Uncle Sam, as the European Union goes to the extent that he wants zero commercial barriers between countries.

Commercial negotiations are not a small task, with billions of dollars of goods and services on the line and potential organizational changes is also an option. But while the Trump administration made it clear that it wanted to act quickly, no single deal was signed even with Canada and Mexico, who were first exposed to the tariff threats in January.

“First Engine” feature

Talk to Bloomberg Yesterday, bessent started selling the advantage of being the “first engine” – the country that is the fastest to agree to a deal with the Oval Office in order to avoid paying higher duties on its exports to the United States

Pesent said there will be a “advantage” for allies who moved quickly, adding: “Especially the first engine feature – usually the first person to conclude a deal that makes the best deal.”

When you click on any country that might be, Bessent added: “It is their choice.”

Bessent’s comments come at a time when Japanese Prime Minister Shigro Ishib said he was not in a hurry to agree to an agreement with the United States with the start of the person’s commercial negotiations in Washington, DC of this week-Trump’s reaction may not have been looking for him when he imposed 24 % “on the country on April 2.

“We may fail if we rush, and I do not think it is good to be exposed a lot to the completion of negotiations,” Ishiba He said in Parliament yesterday.

But Pesin was insisting that before President Trump had ended for 90 days, Management will have a handful of agreements in the bag In order to prevent trade allies from facing the highest rate.

“There may be many countries, and it may not be the actual commercial document, but we will have an agreement in principle and that we are able to move forward from there.”

When asked if the audience could expect a handful of deals, or commercial agreements with most countries, Pesent added: “You will depend, but we will move with every deliberate speed and again, it will be practical.”

While the Trump team sometimes ignored its need for deals with foreign countries, Pesent showed his hand in a reason he wanted to deals: so that he could create a unified front against China.

The “Great Encouragement” strategy will witness that the American strike deals with Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and India to exert pressure on China – the only nation that responded with an aggressive mutual tariff.

“[Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and India have] Besense said last week: For each Bloomberg. “Then we can approach China as a group.”

The first engine resistance

It should be noted that the Bessent theory “The First Engine Feature” usually applies to companies that are launched or interact in a specific industry, and not a complete country that negotiates with the largest economy in the world.

But until then, the research in the first engine theory can indicate that the countries are resistant to be the fastest to sign a deal. Writing on the partial economy scale and the first engine feature, Fernando F. Suarez and Jianvito Lanzola Write Harvard University Business Review in 2005 The benefits of reaction faster reduces an unconfirmed environment.

This is exactly the economic scene in which countries work at the present time, with proverbs Jpmorgan Chase CEO Jimmy Damon said that uncertainty has a harmful effect on the markets.

Likewise, while companies said they could not change their long -term investment decisions based on a tariff policy that is likely to be short -term outside the White House, foreign leaders will also look forward to ensuring the best results for their members for future generations instead of showing the Trump administration for the rest of its term.

Even the UK Prime Minister Sir Kerr Starmer – a major military and economic ally – did not sign a deal of the wheel, and only if he benefited from the British people.

“I will only conclude a deal if it is in the national interest,” it is He said last week. “This is my priority – her saying abroad, security and renewal at home.”

This is in contradiction with the views of the cabinet Trump, Professor Joao Gomez Kidney economist at Warton Business College at the University of Pennsylvania, previously told luck: “My feeling is this administration, this president has a tremendous belief that everyone in the end wants to do business in America.

So, we are the greatest country in the world, we have the greatest … institutions, markets, and people, whatever it is. It does not matter what we do, the gifted people want to come here, and companies want to come here.

“I think this belief is essential … but there is an end to everything.”

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

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2025-04-15 10:51:00