During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Ingraham Angle” on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the US is not seeking a complete separation from China. He mentioned that both parties recognize that the current situation, particularly regarding “strategic industries,” is not sustainable, highlighting China’s role in mass production, such as for clothing and other reproductions.
Bessent stated, “We understand that this isn’t sustainable, especially concerning China. When you consider percentages like 145% and 125%, it’s essentially an embargo. We don’t aim for separation; our goal is to achieve fair agreements.”
He further noted that many American companies have invested significantly in advance, suggesting that the trade deficit has indeed widened due to decoupling.
Expanding on this, Bessent clarified, “I don’t advocate for separating sectors like e-textiles. Instead, we need to focus on separating strategic industries. The pandemic provided a real test to illustrate what happens when these areas are cut off. As President Trump made clear to the trade team, we can’t let this happen again. Whether it’s steel, semiconductors, or medicines, we plan to manufacture these domestically. Our goal is to revive strategic and precision manufacturing.”
He also pointed out that items like clothing and sneakers “do not impact our national security,” noting that while there are high-quality products we can create here, mass production remains manageable from abroad.
