Media: US to hold rolling trade negotiations with 18 countries under new framework

In a bid to fast-track a wave of new trade agreements, U.S. officials are preparing to hold staggered negotiations with about 18 major trading partners over the next two months, using a streamlined template designed to set common terms across multiple deals, according to people familiar with the plans.

The new framework, developed by the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office, categorises the talks into several broad areas—tariffs and quotas, non-tariff barriers, digital trade, rules of origin, and economic security. Under this structure, U.S. negotiators will tailor specific demands to each country, aiming to reach agreements before a self-imposed July 8 deadline. Nations that fail to strike deals by then risk facing President Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariffs, unless the administration extends the current 90-day pause, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.

The plan envisions a rolling cycle: six countries will enter talks each week over three consecutive weeks, completing an 18-nation round that will repeat if necessary. Officials caution that the timeline could slip if negotiations encounter major hurdles. “USTR is working under an organised and rigorous framework and moving ahead quickly with willing trading partners,” a USTR spokeswoman said.

While the administration has not publicly named all 18 countries, some details have emerged. India, for example, has reportedly agreed to broad negotiation terms following Vice President JD Vance’s visit to New Delhi. However, major partners like Mexico and Canada are excluded from this process, as Trump’s reciprocal tariff order does not apply to them. China, facing a separate track with the threat of tariffs as high as 145%, also falls outside the new 18-nation framework.

European Union officials and others say they are still awaiting more specific U.S. demands. The EU has drawn its own lines, refusing to discuss agricultural subsidies and value-added tax reforms. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has ruled out changes to its food and automotive safety standards.

The success of this high-speed negotiation strategy could shape the next phase of U.S. trade policy. However, much remains uncertain as talks begin—and time is running short before the July deadline.

By Vugar Khalilov