How is the administration’s call to do 90 deals in 90 days going?
Unfolding as Promised
On April 12, Peter Navarro bragged about 90 pending deals in 90 days.
“So this is unfolding exactly like we thought it would in a dominant scenario,” Navarro said in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” when asked how consumers and businesses can make decisions “when it seems as though the president’s trade policies are shifting at a moment’s notice.”
“We’ve got 90 deals in 90 days possibly pending here,” Navarro continued. “And it was par for the course, actually it was a birdie for President Trump to do exactly what he did, which was pause for 90 days. And we’re going to get this done for the American people.”
What’s the Starting Date for 90 Days?
On April 2, and Trump’s Big Announcement Is Half-Reciprocal Tariffs on the World
Factoring in value added taxes and other alleged manipulations, Trump announces Half-Reciprocal Tariffs with a minimum baseline of 10 percent.
45 days from April 2 would be May 17. Today is the May 19.
But start with the 90 day pause on April 9. That would make the midpoint May 24.
So give Trump another 5 days, with 90 deals “possibly pending” already on April 12.
Deals Announced
On May 8, I commented Hooray! A Tentative Deal with the UK, Only 199 Deals to Go
Trump worked out a deal with the UK, a US trade surplus country.
Q: Where Did 200 Deals Come From?
A: Trump
On April 25, I noted Trump Tells Time Magazine He Has Made 200 Deals Already, Refused to Name Any
Time (in bold): Your trade adviser, Peter Navarro, says 90 deals in 90 days is possible. We’re now 13 days into the point from when you lifted the reciprocal, the discounted reciprocal tariffs. There’s zero deals so far. Why is that?
Trump (regular font): No, there’s many deals.
When are they going to be announced?
You have to understand, I’m dealing with all the companies, very friendly countries. We’re meeting with China. We’re doing fine with everybody. But ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.
Not one has been announced yet. When are you going to announce them?
I’ve made 200 deals.
You’ve made 200 deals?
100%.
I’m just curious, why don’t you announce these deals that you’ve solidified?
I would say, over the next three to four weeks, and we’re finished, by the way.
You’re finished?
We’ll be finished.
Oh, you will be finished in three to four weeks.
I’ll be finished. Now, some countries may come back and ask for an adjustment, and I’ll consider that, but I’ll basically be, with great knowledge, setting—ready? We’re a department store, a giant department store, the biggest department store in history.
Is Everyone Happy With the One Deal Made?
On May 9, I commented Big Three Automakers Blast Trump’s UK Trade Deal
It only took one day for complaints to roll in. Also, Ford is hiking prices.
One would think, well maybe, we are dealing with Trump here, that someone would have consulted the auto industry over this carve out.
However, there was pressure to complete a deal, any deal, given Trump’s promise of 200 deals.
On April 8, 2025, I noted Musk Calls Trump’s Trade Advisor a “Moron Who’s Dumber than a Sack of Bricks”
I strongly side with Musk on this one.
Since then, Trump took Navarro’s preposterous 90 deals in 90 days and upped that to 200 deals already made “100 percent”.
Roughly half way in, we have one deal. And that deal is on thin ice.
What a total clown show.