Trump says countries are ‘kissing my ass’ to avoid tariffs amid trade war

U.S. President Donald Trump has long argued that tariffs are necessary to counteract America's trade deficit with global partners, including China.

Hours before sweeping tariffs came into effect for more than 90 nations — including a 104 per cent levy on China — U.S. President Donald Trump boasted that countries had been calling and “kissing my ass” in a last-ditch effort to sign a deal.

“I’m telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” he said during a speech at the National Republican Congressional Committee Dinner on Tuesday night, his comments garnering a giggle from the audience.

“They are. They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please, sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir!’” he continued, without specifying which countries had allegedly picked up the phone.

The president also criticized some Republican party members who have openly opposed his “reciprocal” tariffs and are attempting to pass a bill that would grant Congress new powers, in addition to existing ones, to block them.

“I see some rebel Republican, some guy who wants to grandstand, say, ‘I think that Congress should take over negotiations.’ Let me tell you, you don’t negotiate like I negotiate,” he said. “Oh, that’s what I need. I need some guy telling me how to negotiate.”

Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska introduced legislation on Monday that aims to restrict Trump’s increasingly destabilizing economic policy, which is causing dramatic fluctuations in international stock markets and raising alarm bells among economists.

The legislation would put an expiry date on proposed tariffs by giving Congress 60 days to approve them and require the president to provide 48 hours’ notice of an incoming duty alongside its purpose and an impact assessment.

Republican Jeff Hurd from Colorado co-signed the bill alongside two Democratic representatives, Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Gregory Meeks.