Fact Check: "Trump's trade war fails: only 2 deals in 76 days instead of 90."
What We Know
In early April 2025, President Donald Trump announced a series of tariffs on most imports, which he termed "Liberation Day" tariffs. Following this announcement, his administration set an ambitious goal of negotiating "90 deals in 90 days" to bolster trade relations with various countries. However, as of June 27, 2025, only two agreements had been reached, specifically "framework" deals with China and the United Kingdom, neither of which constituted full trade agreements (source-3). This stark contrast between the promised and actual outcomes has led to claims that the trade war is failing.
Analysis
The claim that Trump's trade war has failed is supported by the significant disparity between the expected number of trade deals and the actual results. The administration's goal of 90 deals was heavily publicized, but the reality has shown that only two framework agreements were made in the 76 days following the tariffs' announcement. This has prompted criticism that the trade war is not achieving its intended objectives (source-3).
Moreover, the economic impact of the tariffs has been negative, as evidenced by a widening trade deficit reported by the Commerce Department, which reached $96.6 billion in May 2025, an 11% increase from April (source-3). This indicates that rather than reducing the trade deficit, the tariffs may be contributing to its growth by decreasing exports, which fell by $9.7 billion during the same period.
The credibility of the sources reporting these findings is strong, particularly as they come from established news outlets and economic reports. The analysis of the trade deficit and its implications is corroborated by data from the Commerce Department, which is a reliable source for economic statistics.
Conclusion
The claim that "Trump's trade war fails: only 2 deals in 76 days instead of 90" is True. The evidence clearly shows that the administration's ambitious goal of negotiating 90 trade deals was not met, with only two framework agreements achieved. Additionally, the adverse economic impacts, such as an increasing trade deficit, further support the assertion that the trade war has not succeeded in its stated objectives.
