Scott Bessent Becomes Key Player on Tariffs

The White House pressed for fast negotiations with its shock and awe tariffs. Now it can’t drum up enough interest from a ‘first mover’

Following President Trump's tariff announcement, the administration claimed a surge of interest from world leaders eager to make trade deals. But nearly two weeks later no agreements have been signed, and pressure is mounting to finalize at least one. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now promoting a "first mover advantage" to encourage swift negotiations, though global uncertainty and resistance to rushed decisions have left key allies hesita…

Scott Bessent Becomes Key Player on Tariffs

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is President Trump’s favorite on his team of trade advisers, Politico reports. Trump likes that Bessent is “smart” and “not desperate” and it helps that the former hedge fund manager has fans on Wall Street. In contrast, “every Wall Streeter has complained” about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Scott Bessent Is Not Our Economic Savior

Scott Bessent is having a moment. “Wall Street’s Best Hope to End Trump’s Global Trade War Is One of Its Own,” says The Wall Street Journal. “Bessent Emerges As Man of the Hour Trade Negotiator,” says Bloomberg. “Bessent has emerged as a potential savior, the most senior official standing between Trump and a full-blown global trade war,”explains the Financial Times. But the Treasury secretary isn’t going to save us from President Trump’s tariff …

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that there was no reason for the US and Chinese economies to dissociate themselves despite reciprocal threats of tariffs, and that there could be a "great deal" between the two.

Trump's envoy met with Javier Milei and Luis Caputo.But in a subsequent interview he marked a distance from the Chinese role and spoke of "avoiding what has happened in Africa," about the economic expansion of the Asian giant.He praised the President and said that reciprocal tariffs will continue.He is the second US official to talk about the issue.

JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon says Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would be the right person to lead trade talks, the Wall Street Journal reports. The banker says he is an "adult in the company."