Treasury’s Bessent Says Trade Talks Can Extend Past Aug. 1 Deadline

U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said on 30 July that negotiations on outstanding trade agreements could continue beyond the current 1 August deadline if no accords are reached in time. She urged the public and market participants not to panic should talks slip past the date, indicating that negotiators would keep working toward a resolution. Bessent’s remarks aim to temper concerns surrounding the approaching cutoff, which has been viewed by some investors as a hard stop for concluding the talks. By signaling flexibility in the timetable, the Treasury seeks to reassure businesses and financial markets that efforts to secure deals will remain in progress even after 1 August.