The USA intends to negotiate new trade agreements with over 70 countries after President Donald Trump introduced his sweeping import tariffs against the rest of the world, according to the newspaper's sources.
Now, Finance Minister Scott Bessent hopes that the countries, in exchange for relief from the USA, will restrict trade with China, stop the flow of Chinese goods, and prevent Chinese companies from establishing themselves abroad, according to sources with insight into the talks.
The measures are said to be intended to force Beijing to the negotiating table to reach a favorable agreement with Donald Trump.
The USA has already floated the idea in early talks with certain countries, according to the sources.
Bessent is said to be the mastermind behind the strategy and is believed to have presented it to Trump on April 6, two days before Trump announced his 90-day tariff pause against most countries except China. Since then, the Finance Minister has taken an increasingly active role in the game of tariffs.
