Global financial markets are giving a cautious welcome to reports the Trump administration is to row back on elements of its threatened trade war escalation.
Separate US news organisations said over the weekend that sector-specific tariffs, which the president had warned would come into effect on 2 April, were now unlikely.
If true, it would mean tariffs of up to 25% on cars, semiconductors and pharmaceutical goods would not take effect.
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Bloomberg News was first to report the development, which followed fierce lobbying from the industries concerned.
The Wall Street Journal, citing a Trump administration official, also reported the threatened import charges were to be withdrawn, at least for a further temporary period.
They added, however, that so-called “reciprocal” tariffs in response to duties imposed on US goods to date were still planned for 2 April.
There is speculation tariffs could be narrowed to target the countries, or blocs, with the greatest trade imbalances with the United States.
The White House has yet to comment officially.
But the remarks were seen as further hope of a climbdown by financial markets, as they built on earlier comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that indicated a possible delay to the reciprocal element as details continued to be ironed out.
Further US talks with China are planned, while the European Union said last week it may delay implementing its threatened response to US steel and aluminium tariffs.
