U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled flexibility on tariff policies on Monday, stating that "everything is on the table" regarding current tariffs, and revealed that trade talks have been initiated with nearly 70 countries.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Business Channel, Bessent emphasized that the U.S. aims to reduce tariff levels through negotiations. "For countries that have not taken retaliatory measures, we are already at the highest tariff level. My goal is to achieve a reduction in tax rates through effective negotiation." However, he also noted that specific progress will depend on the response of trading partners.
The minister's disclosed schedule shows that global trade negotiations are about to enter a critical phase. During April-June, the Office of the United States Trade Representative will handle consultation requests from nearly 70 countries, with Japan being granted priority negotiation rights due to its rapid response. According to White House notifications, after President Trump spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba on the same day, both sides have designated full-time negotiators to initiate trade talks.
However, Bessent candidly admitted to Bloomberg that it may be difficult to reach an agreement before the reciprocal tariff measures take effect on April 9th. When asked if he considered lowering the general tariff rate below 10%, he reiterated his open attitude of "all options are on the table." (International Finance News)
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