The number of countries that have contacted the United States regarding trade has more than doubled since President Donald Trump introduced his “Liberation Day” tariffs, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett revealed Sunday.

Last weekend, Hassett and other Trump administration officials said over 50 nations had reached out. By Wednesday—when Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries, reverting to a 10% baseline rate while raising tariffs on China to over 100%—that number had grown to nearly 70.

“The whole point of the trade policy is to address the national emergency that we’re too dependent on foreign products in the U.S., especially if we were at a time of conflict. And we’re doing something about that,” Hassett said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” during an interview with anchor Jake Tapper.

“And the reciprocal act was basically, guys, if you come to the table and negotiate with us and treat us the same way we treat you, then we will get your rate really low,” Hassett added. “So, right now, 130 countries, 130 countries have responded, and we’re negotiating with them, and they have got their rate down to 10%.”

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett: "Right now, 130 countries — 130 countries — have responded and we're negotiating with them." pic.twitter.com/kR2p6OLG2e

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2025

Hassett described a bifurcated trade negotiation system in which talks with China are “very, very nascent, if at all,” while discussions are moving “very quickly” with other countries, including Japan, Korea, and India. “People are coming to town with great, great offers,” he added.

Some agreements are nearly finalized, and the Trump administration is considering announcing a “deal in principle even this week,” Hassett said, “but then we were making so much progress so rapidly that the president decided to instead, instead of having one or two things right now, just go for the 10% pause. And I think it was the right answer, given the massive amount of momentum that we have been seeing.”

Hassett emphasized that there is a coordinated strategy behind Trump’s tariff policy, despite perceptions of mixed messaging from various administration officials—including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

“And so what President Trump does is, he sets out a path for everybody, for Howard Lutnick, Scott Bessent, and for Jamieson, on how they would move forward on a particular policy matter,” he said. “And then it’s my job as director to make sure that the president’s wishes are being fulfilled. I’m kind of there to help everybody succeed.”