U.S. Treasury Secretary says Trump will raise tariffs on nations that do not negotiatie in 'good faith'

A top U.S. economic official says the Trump administration will raise tariffs again if countries don’t reach trade agreements during the 90-day pause period further raising tariff pressure.

Bae Eun-ji has the details.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who acts as a principal advisor to Trump has said tariff rates will soon return to a "reciprocal" level for nations that do not reach trade agreements during the 90-day pause.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday local time, he said Trump has put the countries on notice that if they don't negotiate in "good faith," they will ratchet back up to the April 2nd level.

Calling it a "Liberation Day," Trump announced a set of reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd, before putting a temporary pause to those levies for 90 days.

Speaking during a business roundtable in Abu Dhabi on Friday, he said that time is running out for countries to make a trade deal with the United States.

"And we have, at the same time, 150 countries that want to make a deal but you're not able to see that many countries so at a certain point over the next two weeks I think Scott and Howard will be sending letters out, essentially telling people, we want to be very fair, but we'll be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States."

Meanwhile, Bessent also noted there are 18 important trading partners that the United States is most focused on solidifying deals with, while adding that there are a lot of smaller trading relationships.

As the deadline looms, he said Washington may impose some tariffs by region rather than on individual countries.. saying they may impose a certain rate for Central America and a certain rate for Africa.

Amid growing pressure,.. South Korea, which faces 25 percent U.S. reciprocal tariffs, is also making efforts to reach a trade deal.

The country's finance minister and trade minister met with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in late April, and requested exemptions from higher levies.

With only about 50 days left until the July 8th deadline, senior trade officials from Seoul are scheduled to hold more consultations in Washington later this week.

Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.