Multiple countries pledge zero tariff talks while Howard Lutnick rules out tariff delay

Taiwan and Zimbabwe are pledging zero-tariff agreements while a key U.S. official, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, says the White House will not delay recently unveiled tariffs.

On Sunday, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te offered what he called a “zero tariffs” starting point for talks with the United States.

In a video message released after meeting with small and medium-sized enterprise executives at his residence, Lai explained that Taiwan plans to remove certain trade barriers rather than impose reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods. He also said Taiwanese businesses would maintain their investments in the U.S. as long as those projects serve Taiwan’s interests.

During his remarks, President Lai acknowledged that Taiwan’s economy, which relies heavily on trade, could struggle with Washington’s new tariffs. Yet he expressed hope that any negative effects can be minimized, especially because the U.S. tariffs do not apply to semiconductors, one of Taiwan’s largest exports.

“Tariff negotiations can start with ‘zero tariffs’ between Taiwan and the United States, with reference to the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement,” Lai said. He noted that Taiwan has no plan to respond with retaliatory tariffs. He also stated there would be “no change in Taiwanese companies’ investment commitments to the United States, as long as they are in Taiwan’s interest.”

Last month, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced an additional $100 billion commitment in the U.S.

In his statement, Lai pointed out that electronics, petrochemicals, information and communications, and natural gas would likely follow TSMC’s lead. Taiwan’s cabinet, he said, is reviewing possible large-scale agricultural, industrial, and energy purchases from the United States, while the defense ministry is already moving forward with existing weapons procurement plans.

In his view, resolving such issues demonstrates the fairness of Taiwan’s trade practices and signals a readiness to expand trade ties in an era marked by unpredictable tariff policies. He stressed that the United States remains Taiwan’s main source of arms and its most significant international supporter, despite a lack of formal diplomatic relations.

In recent years, Taiwan has faced escalating military and political pressure from its much larger neighbor, China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Just before President Trump announced the newest round of tariffs, China concluded military drills around the island. Lai mentioned that Taiwan has been through global crises before and emerged stronger.

He stated, “Not only have we been able to overcome the difficulties, but we have also been able to turn crises into opportunities, transforming the Taiwanese economy into a new and more resilient one.”

Howard Lutnick confirms the tariffs are coming

Amid these shifting trade positions, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced Sunday that President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will become effective later in the week. Interviewed on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Lutnick insisted that the U.S. administration would not postpone these tariffs. “The tariffs are coming. He announced that, and he wasn’t kidding,” Lutnick stated, referring to President Trump.

He added, “We’ve got to start to protect ourselves,” emphasizing that domestic manufacturing has fallen behind in critical sectors. The commerce secretary argued that other nations have long taken advantage of the United States, and the president is determined to reverse this trend. “This is Donald Trump’s agenda, and we’re all here to help him execute,” he said.

President Trump had previously held off implementing tariffs on Mexico and Canada while negotiating immigration issues with those countries, but Lutnick made it clear there will be no such delay now. “There is no postponing the new round of tariffs,” he said. “The president has made it crystal, crystal clear—this is the policy.”

Zimbabwe hopes for positive ties with US, suspending all tariffs.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that he will suspend tariffs on goods imported from the United States in an effort to improve relations with the Trump administration.

Mnangagwa announced this policy on social media, saying the step is meant to grow American imports within the Zimbabwean market and boost Zimbabwean exports headed to the United States.

The principle of reciprocal tariffs, as a tool for safeguarding domestic employment and industrial sectors, holds merit. However, the Republic of Zimbabwe maintains a policy of fostering amicable relations with all nations, and cultivating adversarial relationships with none.

In…

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) April 5, 2025

“This measure is intended to facilitate the expansion of American imports within the Zimbabwean market, while simultaneously promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports destined for the United States,” Mnangagwa said on X.

Zimbabwe’s ties with the U.S. have been strained for more than two decades, mainly due to disputes over land reform policies and concerns about human rights practices. American government data shows that total trade between the two countries reached only $111.6 million in 2024, with U.S. exports to Zimbabwe at $43.8 million, up 10.6 percent from the previous year, and imports from Zimbabwe at $67.8 million, representing a 41 percent drop over the same period.

Political analyst Tendai Mbanje believes Mnangagwa’s decision is unlikely to bring major benefits for Zimbabwe. He told AFP that the move primarily aids American firms rather than Zimbabwe’s economy.

High-profile journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin’ono suggested Mnangagwa is attempting to gain favor with the Trump administration in hopes that the White House might relax or remove sanctions placed on him and other leaders. Chin’ono described this plan as a “long shot.”

This is a knee-jerk reaction. It is not an economic move; at best, it is a political one.
Perhaps the president believes this could serve as a sweetener for his removal from the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act sanctions. A long shot though!

Is Mnangagwa ready… https://t.co/403ah2eWnH

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) April 5, 2025

Washington imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe under former President Robert Mugabe after the government seized white-owned farms. Mugabe’s administration was also accused of cracking down on opposition parties.

In 2024, the Biden administration removed a broad set of sanctions, replacing them with targeted penalties on 11 individuals, among them Mnangagwa, due to “democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, and government corruption.” Mnangagwa has denied these allegations, calling the sanctions “illegal and unjustified.”

Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe aims to maintain “amicable relations with all nations, and cultivate adversarial relationships with none.”

However, Chin’ono said that Zimbabwe’s unilateral move might not align with the regional bloc SADC, where Mnangagwa serves as chairman. Chin’ono insisted that a more unified approach to U.S. trade policies could offer better leverage.

Over 50 countries have contacted the White House since the US tariff shock

In another regional development, Lesotho has been subject to 50% tariffs, according to the list President Trump revealed on Wednesday. Lesotho’s government said it would send representatives to negotiate with U.S. officials and would explore other potential markets for its goods if discussions do not go well.

Administration officials also revealed that more than 50 countries have been contacting the White House since Wednesday’s sweeping tariff announcement. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, these countries are seeking discussions or deals to avoid potential penalties and to clarify the new trade framework.

No specifics about which countries approached the U.S., or what concessions might be offered, were disclosed. Still, Bessent insists this puts Washington “in a position of power,” as multiple negotiations could open fresh paths for U.S. exports and create new rules for imports.

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