Over 50 nations have initiated trade negotiations with the White House, according to a top economic adviser to President Donald Trump. The U.S. officials are defending recent tariffs that have caused global upheaval. The National Economic Council Director, Kevin Hassett, insisted during an interview that the tariffs were not intended to crash financial markets to coerce the Federal Reserve into decreasing interest rates. The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, played down concerns over the stock market drop, stating that there was no immediate risk of a recession due to the tariffs. Trump's imposition of broad tariffs on U.S. imports has led to retaliatory measures by China, sparking concerns about a global trade war and economic downturn. Trump administration officials are trying to portray the tariffs as a strategic move to reposition the U.S. in global trade, with any economic disruptions seen as temporary. The stock market has declined by about 10% in response to Trump's aggressive tariff policies, which experts believe could lead to inflation and harm economic growth. Markets are bracing for another week of uncertainty from the tariffs, with investors on edge following the worst week for U.S. stocks in years. Hassett mentioned that more than 50 countries have already engaged with the White House for trade discussions due to Trump's tariffs. Taiwan's President has proposed talks with the U.S. based on zero tariffs and a commitment to remove trade barriers, aiming to boost U.S. investments by Taiwanese companies. Hassett believes that consumers may not be significantly impacted as exporters might reduce prices.