Bessant says trade talks could be concluded by September, hints at possible extension of deadline

PANews June 27 news, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessant said that the Trump administration's trade agreement agenda may be completed before Labor Day (September 1), indicating that some negotiations may extend beyond the July 9 deadline. "There are some countries that are coming to us with very good agreements," Bessant said on a TV show on Friday, highlighting Commerce Secretary Lutnick's comments the day before that the White House is about to plan to reach agreements with 10 major trading partners. Bessant reiterated that there are 18 important trading partners, "If we can reach agreements with 10 or 12 of these 18 important partners (in addition to another 20 important partners), then I think we can complete trade negotiations before Labor Day." He did not specify which countries he hoped to reach agreements with.