Economics Daily

Why Scott Bessent Is Stopping in Japan En Route to China

The Treasury Secretary has a deep knowledge of Japan and its markets

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg

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By Chris Anstey and Daniel Flatley

May 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

I’m Chris Anstey, a senior economics editor in Boston. Today we’re looking at the US Treasury chief’s concerns with Japan. Send us feedback and tips to ecodaily@bloomberg.net. And if you aren’t yet signed up to receive this newsletter, you can do so here.

Before joining Trump on his pivotal trip to China this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent departs Monday for Tokyo. Two key dynamics lie behind the long layover to meet with Japanese policymakers from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama.