scottbessent

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened a full-scale international meeting of finance ministers on Monday to address a worsening crisis in the supply of critical minerals and China’s growing dominance over strategic materials.
The talks come as China refines up to 87% of the world’s rare earths and silver prices are hitting record highs. Bessent brought together finance ministers from 11 countries, representatives of the European Commission, and U.S. trade officials to begin coordinating a response.
According to Bessent, the goal is to repair and diversify supply chains before China further tightens its control.

Countries Representing 60% of Global Demand—Yet Supply Still Dominated by China
Participants included:
Jim Chalmers (Australia)François-Philippe Champagne (Canada)Valdis Dombrovskis (European Union)Roland Lescure (France)Lars Klingbeil (Germany)Ashwini Vaishnaw (India)Giancarlo Giorgetti (Italy)Satsuki Katayama (Japan)Edgar Amador Zamora (Mexico)Yun-Cheol Koo (South Korea)Rachel Reeves (United Kingdom)
Jamieson Greer, John Jovanovic, and Jay Horine also joined the meeting. Together, these countries and blocs account for roughly 60% of global demand for the minerals in question, yet China continues to dominate the supply side.

“Supply Chains Are Over-Concentrated and Fragile”
Bessent opened the talks with a blunt assessment:
“Supply chains are too concentrated. They are fragile. They are easily disrupted. We have to fix this—and fast.”
The U.S. delegation outlined current investments and upcoming initiatives aimed at building alternative supply routes, with a focus on:
rare earthscobaltlithiumgraphitesilver
Bessent stressed that the objective is not a complete decoupling from China, but rather reducing systemic risks where they matter most.

Europe Warns Against Inaction; France to Elevate Issue at the G7
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warned that Europe cannot afford to remain passive:
“For me, it’s crucial that Europe does not sit on its hands. Complaints and self-pity won’t help—we have to act.”
He called for faster action and new EU-level funding, pointing to Germany’s raw-materials fund as a possible model. Klingbeil also confirmed that France will make rare earths a central topic during its upcoming G7 presidency.

Chinese Export Restrictions Add Urgency
The urgency of the talks was reinforced by a recent move in which China banned exports of dual-use minerals intended for Japan’s military just last week. The decision affected countries that rely on these materials for:
energy systemsdefense capabilitiessemiconductor manufacturing
Bessent warned:
“We cannot be caught off guard again—especially not with minerals this critical.”

Financing Alternatives and Mobilizing Private Capital
Ministers also heard briefings from Greer, Jovanovic, and Horine on financial instruments designed to accelerate alternative supply development and mobilize private-sector participation in rebuilding global supply chains.

Silver’s Record Rally Forces CME to Change Margin Rules
Beyond the policy discussions, markets have already reacted. CME Group announced changes to how margin requirements are calculated for silver, gold, platinum, and palladium. Under the new framework, margins will be tied to a percentage of notional value, rather than fixed dollar amounts. The changes take effect Tuesday evening.
The move follows:
a 20% year-to-date surge in silver pricesrecord highs in both silver and gold
CME said the adjustment followed a “routine review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage.”

Market Reaction: Silver Rises, Precious Metals Mixed
In the latest trading session:
Spot silver climbed another 1%Gold held steady at $4,596.03 per ouncePlatinum fell 0.6%Palladium declined 0.9%The Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1%
CME reminded traders that daily margining exists to cover potential losses, signaling that more cash will be required to maintain positions as volatility increases.

#Silver , #commodities , #ScottBessent , #TRUMP , #USPolitics

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is ramping up pressure on the Federal Reserve, calling for further interest rate cuts and framing them as the missing link in President Donald Trump’s economic vision for 2026.
Speaking Thursday before the Economic Club of Minnesota, Bessent declared:
“Cutting interest rates will have a tangible impact on the lives of every resident of Minnesota. It’s the one missing ingredient for even stronger economic growth. That’s why the Fed must not delay.”

Trump’s Agenda Gaining Momentum – But Fed Is Too Slow
The Federal Reserve has already cut rates three times in late 2025, totaling 75 basis points. The benchmark interest rate currently stands between 3.5% and 3.75%. However, the pace of easing is expected to slow significantly this year. Markets are currently pricing in just two further cuts, while Fed officials’ own forecasts suggest there may be only one.
According to Bessent, that’s not enough. He has emerged as one of the most vocal advocates of a more aggressive monetary path, enabling the Trump administration to fully implement its economic strategy centered on tax cuts, deregulation, and strong pro-growth policies.

Who Will Lead the Fed Next? Two Kevins in the Spotlight
Bessent is also overseeing the search for the next Fed Chair, with Jerome Powell’s term expiring in May 2026. The shortlist has narrowed to five names, with Kevin Hassett, former White House economic adviser, and Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor and critic of post-2008 easy money policies, considered front-runners.
The decision will shape not just the direction of interest rates, but also market confidence in U.S. financial stability.

Inflation: A Risk Worth Taking?
Critics argue that an overly loose policy could reignite inflation, even as the labor market shows signs of cooling. Bessent, however, maintains that the benefits outweigh the risks, particularly within the framework of Trump’s economic doctrine.
“In 2025, the President laid the groundwork for robust growth: with the historic passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, trade deals that rewrote decades of global imbalance, and a bold deregulatory agenda that empowered American entrepreneurs and businesses. Now in 2026, we’re beginning to reap the rewards of President Trump’s America First agenda.”
Trump’s doctrine includes new stimulus measures, federal infrastructure projects, and efforts to revive domestic manufacturing—all dependent on continued monetary support.

#TRUMP , #Fed , #ScottBessent , #interestrates , #economy

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Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

#ScottBessent
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent stated that he wishes to remain in his current position after a report emerged suggesting he is a candidate to succeed the Federal Reserve Chair.

When asked about the role he prefers, Bisent told the House Financial Services Committee that he holds one of the best positions in Washington, emphasizing that he is "happy to do what President (Donald) Trump wants me to do," and added: "I believe we are making great progress in the Treasury Department."

The cryptocurrency market is known for its high volatility, and one of the macro factors that has the greatest impact on it is the interest rate policy of the United States. Recent statements from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicate the Trump administration's direction toward lowering interest rates, and this could have significant effects on Bitcoin and other digital assets.