US Treasury chief says he expects trade talks to yield some regional deals

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said he expected ongoing trade talks amid the 90-day pause to yield a number of regional deals, adding that the timing of any final tariff rates will depend on whether countries are negotiating in good faith.

The Trump administration is focused on its 18 most important trading relationships, he told CNN's "State of the Union" program, adding: "My other sense is that we will do a lot of regional deals--this is the rate for Central America. This is the rate for this part of Africa."