125% tariff 90-day pause Abril Elfi Alaska bespoke negotiations bond market China tariffs Donald Trump economic diplomacy economic transition Featured

Bessent Applauds Trump’s ‘Courage’ Amid China Tariffs, Reiterates That Non-Retaliating Nations Will Be Rewarded – One America News Network

admin

April 9, 2025

0Points

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House on April 09, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced today a 90-day pause on the full effect of his new tariffs for dozens of countries except China, which he raised to 125% “effective immediately”. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
6:09 PM – Wednesday, April 9, 2025

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s tariff pause has benefited over 75 countries who have opted to negotiate with the United States — rather than retaliating.

Bessent spoke to reporters during a press conference following Trump’s big tariff announcement.

“It took great courage for him to stay the course until this moment,” Bessent asserted.

The treasury secretary reminded reporters at the press conference that the Trump administration’s previous message to countries across the globe had been to “not retaliate and you will be rewarded.”

Nevertheless, Bessent reiterated the message once more on Wednesday.

”Every country in the world that wants to come and negotiate: we are willing to hear you,” Bessent assured.

He then went on to specifically single out China, which Trump is reportedly hitting with a new 125% tariff, “due to their insistence on escalation” and retaliation.

Soon after, Bessent began to discuss the possibility of striking special agreements with particular trading partners in the aftermath of Trump’s tariff shift.

With markets already spiking again, Bessent further informed reporters at the White House that South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan had expressed interest in a new “large LNG project” in Alaska. Bessent noted that he had visited Japan’s ambassador to the United States last night and the two had a “nice chat.”

Bessent also stated that he had a meeting with Vietnamese officials on Wednesday, and that he believes that things will be progressing in a “good direction.”

He described the talks as “bespoke,” rather than “off the rack,” following Trump’s request for specialized negotiations. The president had announced the pause and defended his move later at the White House.

“No other president would have done what I did,” Trump stated. “I did a 90-day pause for the people that didn’t retaliate,” he continued.

“Some days you have to cut the bone, you have to do what you have to do,” the president added, noting that Americans were becoming “yippy” and “afraid.”