Bessent predicts US will finish trade agreement with South Korea in 10 days

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday told reporters that he is close to finishing a trade deal with South Korea and expects "something" to happen in the agreement that would resolve ongoing disputes in the next 10 days.

President Donald Trump first teased a trade deal with South Korea in July, but progress stalled over how the trading partner would invest $350 billion into the United States. 

Bessent said South Korean officials were meeting with U.S. officials this week on the sidelines of annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, D.C.

The secretary acknowledged that the trade negotiations were not finished yet, but teased an agreement sometime next week. He did not elaborate on what the deal would entail.

"I'm sure the differences can be resolved," Bessent said. "We are in discussion now, and I would expect something in the next 10 days." 

Bessent also said Trump is prepared to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month, and that officials from both countries were hammering out the details of the meeting, per Reuters.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.