President Donald Trump has extended his administration's sweeping new tariff rollout to Aug. 1, following internal pressure from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who reportedly requested more time for countries to strike bilateral trade deals. The deadline, originally set for July 9, will now serve as the final opportunity for over two dozen U.S. trading partners to avoid steep import duties.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Bessent—who has emerged as one of the most influential figures in Trump's second-term economic team—convinced the president to hold off on immediate enforcement, citing ongoing negotiations with key allies.
