In April, administration officials vowed to sign trade deals with as many as 90 countries in 90 days. The ambitious target came after Mr. Trump announced, and then rolled back a portion of, steep tariffs that in some cases meant import taxes cost more than the wholesale price of a good itself.

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.

As Trump's tariff deadline nears, the U.S. is seeking trade proposals from global partners, including the EU and Japan, focused on industrial and agricultural products.