Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took questions from reporters on Tuesday morning to discuss President Trump’s trade policy tactics, asserting that the uncertainty roiling markets in recent weeks is a negotiating tactic and certainty would arrive as trade deals come together.
Bessent stated that they expected to speak to “at least” 17 out of the 18 “important” trading partners that the US had identified in “the next few” weeks, highlighting that trade talks were “very close on India” and that the US was holding “substantial talks” with Japan.
Bessent repeatedly declined to discuss engagement with China.
“I believe that it’s up to China to de-escalate, because they sell five times more to us than we sell to them, and so these 120%, 145% tariffs are unsustainable,” he said.
Asked about market volatility amid the trade policy, Bessent noted that markets have likely been disrupted by Trump bringing “strategic uncertainty in the negotiations.” Bessent later asserted that the “aperture of uncertainty” would narrow as new trade deals were announced.
Asked about Amazon (AMZN) reportedly planning to add the cost of tariffs to individual items, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt fielded the question and called the move a “hostile and political act.”
More coverage to come. Check back or refresh for updates.
发表回复