U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that Washington could begin rolling back its reciprocal tariffs if partner countries narrow their trade surpluses with the United States. In an interview with Nikkei published 10–11 August, Bessent said the levies "should melt like ice" as imbalances improve, framing the policy as a pressure tool rather than a permanent fixture. Bessent cited the 27.5% U.S. tariff on imported automobiles as an example, noting that any cut would likely follow a timeline of roughly 50 days after a formal agreement—mirroring the schedule used in the recent U.K. deal. He described the prospective pact with Tokyo as a "golden industrial alliance" and said similar discussions continue with Beijing. The Treasury chief added that he expects the outstanding trade issues to be "finished by October," offering the clearest timetable yet for potential de-escalation of tariff measures first expanded earlier this year. While talks span multiple sectors, Bessent underscored that tariff relief hinges on measurable progress toward balanced trade flows.