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Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent weighed in on America’s tariff negotiations with other countries during a late Monday afternoon appearance on “Kudlow.”President Donald Trump unveiled new tariffs on goods imported from foreign countries last week, including a baseline levy of 10% and “individualized reciprocal higher” tariffs on certain nations.

Bessent told host Larry Kudlow that Trump is “better than anyone at giving himself maximum leverage, so what he has done is we outlined the tariffs on April 2 and then gave countries several days to think about it.”

As I advised on many shows on April 2, I suggested that the foreign officials keep your cool, that you do not escalate and come to us with your offers on how you’re going to drop tariffs, how you’re going to drop non-tariff barriers, how you’re going to stop your currency manipulation, how you’re going to stop the subsidized financing, and at a point, President Trump will be ready to negotiate,” he explained.

Trump reported earlier today that he had talked with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer have since been tapped to head up tariff negotiations with the country.

Bessent said Trump was “going to be directly involved in those negotiations” too.

The Treasury secretary said he hadn’t seen any specific offer from Japan but told Kudlow that “50, 60, maybe almost 70 countries” have gotten in contact with the Trump administration looking to negotiate.