Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed Sunday that “more than 50 countries” have approached the Trump administration about lowering tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers, and halting currency manipulation—though he offered no supporting evidence for the assertion.
“They’ve been bad actors for a long time,” Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press, adding that such issues “can’t be negotiated away in days or weeks.”
His remarks come days after President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, including a 10% blanket tariff on all imports. U.S. markets responded sharply: the Dow dropped 2,200 points, and the S&P 500 fell 10% between Thursday and Friday.
Pressed by moderator Kristen Welker on whether the tariffs could fuel inflation, Bessent insisted the tariffs are a “one-time price adjustment,” not continuous inflation.
Trump defended the tariffs Saturday, calling them an “economic revolution” and claiming more than $5 trillion in investment had already returned to the U.S.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett echoed support for the policy, stating he did not expect a “big effect on the consumer.”
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