United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized on Monday that it is "up to China" to de-escalate trade tensions, describing the relationship between Washington and Beijing as "complicated." Speaking in an interview, Bessent highlighted encouraging signs from multiple trade fronts.

Bessent stated that Washington has received "very good trade proposals" from many of the 17 most important U.S. trade partners seeking to avoid new tariffs. He pointed to Beijing’s recent decision to exclude some U.S. imports from retaliatory duties as evidence of China's intention to ease tensions.

The Treasury Secretary also noted that trade discussions with Asian countries are progressing very well. He revealed that India could potentially be the first country to finalize a trade agreement with the United States under the current negotiations.

Bessent's remarks come as the Trump administration continues to navigate complex global trade dynamics while emphasizing the need for partners, particularly China, to actively contribute to reducing tensions.