<h1>Two countries negotiate a trade deal while tariff hikes, energy levies, and accusations over sanctioned supplier escalate multilateral trade tensions</h1> Country A and Country B are publicly negotiating a bilateral trade agreement while simultaneously embroiled in a tariff dispute after Country B doubled duties on Country A's goods and imposed extra levies tied to Country A's energy purchases. Both governments exchanged conciliatory statements and are scheduling diplomatic and commercial talks, including discussions on a military procurement contract. A senior official from Country B made aggressive public trade and national-security accusations against Country A, which defends its discounted purchases of a sanctioned supplier as driven by national interest. Reports also allege an external request for bloc-level punitive tariffs against Country A and a third country, raising potential multilateral trade and sanctions-law implications.