US seeks best trade offer from countries this week, White House says

By Jeff Mason and Jarrett Renshaw

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. has asked countries to make their best offers on trade negotiations by Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday, as U.S. officials ramp up efforts to deliver multiple agreements to President Donald Trump before a self-imposed deadline just five weeks away.

Leavitt's comments confirm a report by Reuters on Monday that the Trump administration was asking countries to list their best proposals in a number of key areas, including tariff and quota offers for purchase of U.S. industrial and agricultural products and plans to remedy any non-tariff barriers.

In turn, the letter promises answers "within days" with an indication of a "landing zone," including what tariff rates countries can be expected to be saddled with after a 90-day pause on Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs expires on July 8.

“I can confirm the merits and the content of the letter. USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up," Leavitt said.

Other items requested by the Trump administration include any commitments on digital trade and economic security, along with country-specific commitments, according to the letter.

Earlier on Tuesday, a source familiar with talks between the U.S. and European Union told Reuters that EU officials had not yet received the letter.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Leslie Adler and Marguerita Choy)