Trump's 15% Global Tariff Plan Leaves Existing Trade Agreements Intact, Says U.S. Trade Representative

The U.S. Trade Representative moved quickly to reassure international partners that existing commercial agreements remain on stable ground despite the Trump administration’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs. During a weekend appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation, the trade official sought to clearly separate the upcoming 15% global tariff initiative from the long-standing bilateral and multilateral agreements already in place with key trading partners.

Protecting Existing Agreements from New Policy Shifts

Greer’s central message focused on continuity and commitment: “We want them to understand that these deals will be successful transactions. We will fully support these agreements, and we expect our partners to fully support them as well.” This statement was designed to address potential concerns among trading nations that the broad tariff announcement might undermine or supersede their existing contractual arrangements.

The distinction matters significantly for countries like the European Union and South Korea, who have negotiated specific trade frameworks with Washington. By explicitly affirming the integrity of existing agreements, the trade representative aimed to prevent market uncertainty and maintain diplomatic relationships with major economic partners.

Leveraging Other Trade Tools While Preserving Partnerships

Beyond protecting existing accords, the U.S. trade official highlighted that the administration intends to pursue additional trade investigations and measures that could independently benefit American economic interests. These parallel initiatives are positioned as complementary to—rather than contradictory with—the existing framework of bilateral agreements.

The strategy reflects an attempt to balance aggressive new tariff policy with the preservation of established trade relationships. By signaling that the U.S. will simultaneously enforce existing agreements while exploring new leverage points through investigations and targeted measures, officials seek to demonstrate strategic sophistication to both domestic and international audiences.

Diplomatic Outreach to Reassure Trading Partners

Over the weekend, the trade representative engaged directly with European Union officials and plans to extend similar conversations to other major U.S. trading partners in the coming days. This proactive communication campaign underscores the importance placed on maintaining confidence in existing arrangements during a period of policy transition.

The reassurance effort suggests that despite the bold tariff announcement, the administration recognizes the value of maintaining stability in existing trade relationships while simultaneously pursuing new economic advantages through fresh policy tools.