Bessent says disappointed by EU-India deal; South Korea must ratify trade deal

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday he was disappointed by Europe's decision to strike a major trade with India, saying it showed they put trade ahead of the interests of the Ukrainian people.

Bessent told CNBC that Europe had been buying refined products made in India with sanctioned Russian oil supplies, and had been unwilling to join in U.S. sanctions against India because they were separately negotiating a trade agreement.

The U.S. Treasury chief said a hike in U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods to 25% was helpful to "get things moved along" on ratification by the South Korean parliament of a trade deal signed between Washington and Seoul last year.