White House Denies Report of 90-Day Tariff Pause

Hassett ‘did not say’ that the administration is seeking a 90-day reprieve on the tariffs and Trump ‘has been clear,’ the White House said.

The White House in Washington on April 3, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The White House on the morning of April 7 denied claims that the administration is willing to announce a 90-day pause on U.S. tariffs.

In a post on social media platform X on April 7, the White House Rapid Response account said that such claims are “fake news.”

Earlier on the same day, CNBC and other outlets reported that White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said President Donald Trump would be considering a 90-day pause on U.S. tariffs for every country other than China.

The claim appeared to come from an interview that Hassett gave to Fox News when he was asked about a proposal by billionaire investor Bill Ackman to pause tariffs for that period.

“I think that the president is going to decide what the president is going to decide,” Hassett said in response. “I would urge everyone, especially Bill, to ease off the rhetoric a little bit.”

The White House referred to that interview in a separate X post, saying that Hassett “did not say” that the administration is seeking a 90-day reprieve on the tariffs and that Trump himself “has been clear.”

On April 2, Trump announced 10 percent baseline tariffs on nearly every country in the world, while more significant U.S. trading partners were hit with higher rates. Following the tariff announcement, the three major U.S. stock indexes have seen daily declines.

Amid the speculation about a 90-day pause, however, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 on April 7 entered positive territory. But by 11 a.m. ET, the Dow had posted a moderate loss, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 remained positive.

Hassett on April 6 told ABC News that the tariff announcement has led more than 50 countries to reach out to the administration for negotiations.

During his April 7 interview, Hassett said that Trump will listen to trading partners for better deals.

“He’s doubling down on something that he knows works, and he’s going to continue to do that,” Hassett said in the Fox News interview. “But he is also going to listen to our trading partners, and if they come to us with really great deals that advantage American manufacturing and American farmers, I’m sure he'll listen.”

Trump has been talking to world leaders all weekend, Hassett said. Taiwan reached out overnight, he added, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to the White House on April 7 with trade and Middle East policy on the agenda.

Countries are lining up to make deals, Hassett said.

“In President Trump’s view ... it’s these countries that are sending inelastic supply to the country, and so they’re going to bear the brunt of the tariffs,” Hassett said. “And if that were false, then like, so if they didn’t bear the brunt, then they'd be quiet about it, right?

“The fact that they’re all angry and upset and setting retaliation our way, it suggests that President Trump is right that they bear the tariffs.”

On April 7, Trump wrote on social media that tariffs are needed because the current U.S. trade situation is unsustainable.

“Countries from all over the World are talking to us. Tough but fair parameters are being set. Spoke to the Japanese Prime Minister this morning. He is sending a top team to negotiate! They have treated the U.S. very poorly on Trade. They don’t take our cars, but we take MILLIONS of theirs. Likewise Agriculture, and many other ’things.' It all has to change, but especially with CHINA,” he wrote.

Reuters contributed to this report.