There are 18 “important” trading partners that the United States is most focused on solidifying deals with, Bessent said. He did not say how quickly tariff rates could revert to “reciprocal” rates.

"If we were to give too much certainty to the other countries, then they would play us in the negotiations," Bessent told CNN.

President Trump announces a decisive move to reshape global trade by imposing new tariff rates on imports. With letters set to inform 150 countries of these changes, the administration aims to leverage U.