Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has spent the last few days at the center of two major crises. On Wednesday, Bessent warned that the ongoing government shutdown is now cutting into the muscle of the US economy, projecting daily losses of up to fifteen billion dollars. He called for moderate Senate Democrats to break ranks and support a continuing resolution backed by Senate Republicans, arguing that immediate action is needed to reopen the government and minimize mounting economic damage. The shutdown, now deep into its third week, has led to federal workers missing paychecks and is causing increasing slowdowns in government contracting and procurement efforts, especially as vital economic reports remain delayed due to closed agencies, according to Fox Business.

Trade tensions with China also took the spotlight this week as Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a joint press conference in Washington. Bessent accused China of violating an international accord after Beijing extended export controls on rare earth minerals that impact not just the United States but global supply chains. Bessent warned that the US would not stand by while a group of bureaucrats in Beijing tried to manage the world's supply of these critical materials, and he threatened that continued Chinese overreach could force the United States to consider economic decoupling, although he emphasized that this is not the desired outcome. Discussions with allies are ongoing this week and Bessent is expected to travel to South Korea soon to prepare for the upcoming APEC summit, where a possible meeting between President Trump and President Xi is anticipated. According to Yahoo Finance, there is also speculation that a ninety day pause on tariffs could be extended if negotiations show progress.

Bessent revealed that the United States purchased more Argentine pesos recently and disclosed discussions about a potential twenty billion dollar credit facility to buy Argentine bonds, with interest from both banks and sovereign wealth funds. He also commented on broader economic conditions, pointing to recent Federal Reserve data indicating stable employment but mixed consumer spending patterns as the economy faces uncertainty from both the shutdown and these international developments.

As Bessent continues to urge swift action from Congress and assert a tough stance on trade, observers note that his high-pressure week underscores the Treasury’s evolving role at the intersection of domestic stability and global economic security.

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