TMTPOST -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday insisted   he   doesn ’ t   intend to   grant any extension for the   July 9   deadline for higher   reciprocal   tariffs.  

Credit：China Central Television

"No, I ’ m not thinking about the pause," Trump said aboard Air Force One when asked about whether he would extend the negotiating period with trading partners, according to Bloomberg. "I ’ ll be writing letters to a lot of countries,"   he   continued, reiterating his plan to   notify   trading partners   about   the U.S.tariff rates   they will face   without further negotiations.

Trump said   in a   social media   post   on   April 9 that   he has authorized a 90-day pause and "a substantially lowered reciprocal tariff"   of 10% during this period, both effective immediately. The decision was made as more than 75 countries have called the U.S. to negotiate a solution to trade, trade barriers, tariffs, currency manipulation, and non-monetary tariffs, and these countries have not retaliated against the U.S., Trump wrote.

Trump recently   has suggested he would stick to the July 9 deadline. In an interview with Fox News broadcast on Sunday, Trump said he doesn ’ t think he will need to extend the deadline and his administration would notify countries that they have to face higher tariffs unless they strike deals with the U.S.

"We ’ ll look at how a country treats us — are they good, are they not so good — some countries we don ’ t care, we ’ ll just send a high number out," said Trump. He said letters to notify countries about future trade penalties will start going out soon before the July 9 deadline. Letters would say, "Congratulations, we ’ re allowing you to shop in the United States of America, you ’ re going to pay a 25% tariff, or a 35% or a 50% or 10%," said the president.

Trump   stressed his intention   to stick to the July 9 deadline   came as his team was said to cut back their expectations for comprehensive trade deals.   Top U.S. trade   officials are seeking   agreements   with narrower focus   to meet the July   deadline, the Financial Times reported   earlier Tuesday.  

It was   reported the officials   were seeking phased deals with   the most engaged   countries   by July 9, and countries   agree   on such deals   would be spared steeper reciprocal tariffs, but left with an   existing 10% baseline levy while talks on thornier issues   continue.   The Trump administration   would seek   "agreements   in principle"   on   a small   number of   trade   disputes,   and it is also considering   imposing   extra   tariffs on critical   sectors,   per the   report.  

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Bloomberg interview   on Monday   that he expects U.S. will make "a flurry"   of trade deals with trading partners ahead of the July 9 deadline, which is when the Trump administration ’ s reciprocal tariffs return to higher levels   from the baseline level 10%. But he warned that "recalcitrant" countries that their tariff levels could soon snap back to the levels announced on April 2, a date U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed   "Liberation Day".  

"We have countries that are negotiating in good faith, but they should be aware that if we can't get across the line because they are being recalcitrant, then we could spring back to the April 2 levels. I hope that won't have to happen," Bessent said.   He added that any potential extensions will be Trump ’ s decision.