U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated trade discussions with officials from India, Vietnam, and Israel in a bid to finalize new trade arrangements before fresh tariffs come into force, CNN has reported.

These high-stakes negotiations are taking place as part of Trump’s broader push to secure what he calls "reciprocal trade deals." If no agreements are reached, new import duties will be imposed on goods from the three countries starting April 9.

In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed that Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary had expressed willingness to eliminate tariffs entirely — if a deal could be finalized with Washington.

CNN’s report highlighted that the U.S. President is pursuing a series of bilateral trade deals, which could delay or prevent the implementation of these new tariffs. Though these nations represent only a small share of the broader list of countries affected by the new trade policy, the current talks are seen as the first steps in what could become a larger diplomatic and economic effort.

Other countries, notably Canada and China, have already said they will respond with countermeasures if the tariffs go ahead.

The network cited a senior official at the White House, saying the tariffs will be enforced from 12:01 a.m. ET on April 9.

Inside Trump's Trade Strategy

Eric Trump, the president’s son, took to social media platform X with a veiled warning: “I wouldn’t want to be the last country to try to negotiate with @realdonaldtrump. The first to negotiate will win — the last will absolutely lose. I have seen this movie my entire life.”

President Trump himself signaled a willingness to engage in talks. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, he said, “Every country is reaching out. That’s the beauty of our strategy — we’re finally in control. As long as they bring something good to the table, we’re ready to listen.”

He also pointed to TikTok as an example of how tariffs could be used as leverage. “With TikTok, China might say they’ll approve a deal, but only if we ease tariffs. Tariffs give us enormous leverage — always have,” Trump noted.

Details of the Tariffs

On April 2, Trump officially unveiled new tariff rates under his "reciprocal trade" framework. According to the announcement, India will be subject to a 26% tariff, Vietnam 46%, and Israel 17% on their exports to the U.S., starting April 9.

While the full implications of these measures remain to be seen, Trump’s administration is pushing for rapid deals in hopes of avoiding a prolonged trade standoff.