Overview

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that China must take the first step to de-escalate the trade war, citing the unsustainability of its tariffs given its trade surplus with the U.S.
• India is expected to be the first country to finalize a trade agreement with the U.S., potentially within the next week, as part of ongoing negotiations with 15 to 18 trading partners.
• Bessent highlighted China's recent tariff exemptions on select U.S. goods as a potential signal of willingness to ease tensions, though Beijing officially denies any trade negotiations are underway.
• The U.S. maintains a strategy of conducting trade negotiations privately, with President Trump directly involved in crafting bespoke agreements.
• Economic ripple effects from the tariffs continue, with European nations reportedly concerned about a strong euro and potential ECB rate cuts, while Bessent downplayed fears of U.S. supply chain disruptions.