The sweeping tariffs President Trump announced last week were a "negotiating strategy," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Wednesday as the president announced a 90-day pause on most of those tariffs.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that the president's move to implement a blanket pause on his tariffs was the result of declines in the financial markets, arguing the action was part of Trump's strategy all along.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration has “70 negotiations lined up” with foreign governments on a wave of tariffs that kicked in overnight. “I am not planning on going anywhere for Easter,