In a key statement amid rising global trade tensions, U.S. Treasury Secretary Emily Bessent on Wednesday declared that countries which chose not to retaliate against the United States’ recent tariff measures “will be rewarded.” Speaking to reporters, Bessent confirmed she would be visiting Vietnam today, followed by Japan, India, and South Korea in the coming days — all of which are among the nations that refrained from imposing counter-tariffs.
The comments come just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a dramatic escalation in tariffs against China, raising duties to 125%, effective immediately. Trump stated, “Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%.”
However, he also signaled a conciliatory approach toward non-retaliating nations. “More than 75 countries have called representatives of the United States… and that these countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way… I have authorized a 90-day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
With Bessent’s diplomatic tour and Trump’s dual-pronged tariff strategy now in motion, Washington appears to be clearly distinguishing between cooperative and confrontational trade partners, further intensifying the geopolitical divide in global trade realignment.
