U.S. Treasury Minister Scott Vessenet will prioritize trade negotiations with South Korea and four other countries. Negotiations with South Korea are expected to take place next week.
On the 14th (local time), Minister Vessenet noted in an interview with Bloomberg TV, “Last week, there were negotiations with Vietnam, on Wednesday (the 16th) with Japan, and next week with South Korea,” adding that negotiations “will proceed quickly.”
Previously, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported, citing sources, that the U.S. government prioritizes negotiations with South Korea, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Japan.
According to WSJ, Minister Vessenet moved quickly to engage in dialogue with countries that are subject to reciprocal tariffs since he became a key trade advisor to President Trump.
Minister Vessenet stated on the 9th at an American Bankers Association (ABA) event that he would lead trade negotiations, and later that day, he explained the details to reporters at the White House shortly after President Trump's decision to suspend reciprocal tariffs, indicating he is taking a front seat in trade matters.
Meanwhile, Kevin Hassett, Commissioner of the White House National Economic Council (NEC), stated in a CNBC interview that more than 10 countries have proposed “surprising” trade transactions to the U.S. following President Trump's implementation of reciprocal tariffs.