Background on Scott Bessent and His Role
Scott Bessent, the United States Secretary of the Treasury, announced that the country will unveil multiple trade deals within the next 48 hours. This development comes as the deadline for finalizing trade agreements approaches on Wednesday.
Recent Developments in Trade Negotiations
In an interview with CNBC, Bessent shared that he has witnessed a shift in tone from negotiating parties. He mentioned receiving numerous new offers and proposals overnight, indicating a flurry of activity in trade negotiations.
“So, it’s going to be a couple of busy days,” he added.
President Trump’s Trade Actions
President Donald Trump stated that the United States would start delivering tariff notices from 16:00 GMT on Monday (10:00 a.m. CDMX time).
Bessent clarified that these tariff notices do not necessarily imply an ultimatum. He explained, “It’s simply a thank you for wanting to do business with the United States. We welcome you as a trading partner, and here’s the tariff, unless you want to return and try to negotiate.”
TikTok Negotiations and Their Connection to Trade Talks
Bessent refrained from commenting on whether the negotiations regarding TikTok, a video-sharing app recently under scrutiny, would be linked to the ongoing trade discussions. He mentioned that he plans to meet with his Chinese counterpart in the next two weeks.
“I believe there are things we can do together if the Chinese want to do so, so we will discuss whether we can go beyond trade into other areas,” Bessent told CNBC.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Scott Bessent? Scott Bessent is the United States Secretary of the Treasury, who announced the upcoming trade deals.
- What are the multiple trade deals? The United States will announce several new trade agreements within the next 48 hours.
- When will tariff notices be delivered? Tariff notices will be delivered starting from 16:00 GMT on Monday (10:00 a.m. CDMX time).
- Are these tariff notices an ultimatum? No, according to Bessent, they are a gesture of welcoming trading partners and informing them of applicable tariffs.
- Are TikTok negotiations connected to trade talks? Bessent did not confirm a direct link between TikTok negotiations and ongoing trade discussions.
- When will Bessent meet with the Chinese counterpart? Bessent plans to meet with his Chinese counterpart in the next two weeks.
