[REVISION HISTORY]

US Treasury economic and trade policy shifts

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What changed

2026-09-02 12:49 UTC → 2026-09-09 09:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has initiated several economic and geopolitical maneuvers aimed at addressing debt and trade imbalances. Initially, the Treasury announced plans to double its maximum volume for Treasury bond buybacks from $2 billion to at least $4 billion. This move, occurring as US federal debt exceeds $40 trillion, has coincided with rising gold and Bitcoin prices and a declining US dollar index. Speaking at the G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, Bessent urged G20 members to re-examine their trade terms with China to address its $1.2 trillion trade surplus. He argued that China’s economic model relies too heavily on exports due to weak domestic demand, making the surplus unsustainable, and called for a shift toward domestic consumption. While the US direct trade deficit with China improved to $73.9 billion in the first half of 2026, the administration is considering an additional 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods due to manufacturing overcapacity, which could bring total tariffs to approximately 20%. Following the G20 summit, Bessent ~~expanded on these trade concerns, noting~~ noted that 19 G20 members agreed that the continuous flow of cheap exports from non-market economies is unsustainable, while identifying China as the sole dissenting voice. ~~He urged allies to take protective measures to safeguard domestic production.~~ Addressing the global debt crisis, Bessent stated that ‘the world is flooded with debt, and the only way out of this situation is through growth.’ Expanding his geopolitical strategy, Bessent signaled an escalation of economic pressure on Iran through ‘Operation Economic ~~Outcast.’ He announced~~ Outcast,’ announcing plans to expand sanctions to target the aviation, maritime shipping, and digital asset sectors. He further warned businesses to avoid commercial ties with Iran and Russia to prevent US enforcement action. In a separate market maneuver, Bessent issued a warning to currency speculators regarding the Japanese yen.

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