U.S. to Issue Multiple Trade Updates Within 48 Hours, Says Treasury Secretary

　　Credit: CFP

　　
AsianFin -- The United States is set to unveil a series of trade-related announcements over the next two days, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, as a Wednesday deadline approaches for finalizing key trade agreements.

　　Bessent noted in a CNBC interview that several countries had shifted their stance on trade negotiations in recent days. “My inbox was packed last night with new offers and proposals,” he said, predicting a flurry of activity in the coming days.

　　U.S. President Donald Trump earlier said that the U.S. would begin issuing tariff notification letters starting at 12:00 p.m. ET Monday. While not ultimatums, the letters will outline proposed tariff rates and invite further negotiation. “It’s a way of saying, ‘Thanks for wanting to trade with the U.S.—here’s the rate unless you’d like to renegotiate,’” Bessent explained.

　　He declined to say whether discussions over the future ownership of TikTok, which Trump said would begin this week, are tied to broader trade negotiations.

　　Bessent also confirmed plans to meet with his Chinese counterpart in the coming weeks to continue dialogue between the two economic powers.