Washington: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Friday that "we will see" if the scope of tariffs on steel and aluminum will narrow. This comment followed a news report indicating that President Donald Trump is considering reducing some tariffs on these goods.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Bessent's remarks were made during a CNBC interview after a Financial Times report suggested that the Trump administration is contemplating scaling back metal tariffs. This potential move is part of efforts to address affordability issues ahead of the midterm elections in November.

Bessent expressed skepticism about the report, saying, "We'll see if there's kind of a narrowing ... I don't think it's great reporting that we saw today." He noted that any changes would likely involve clarification on incidental objects, emphasizing that the final decision rests with the president.

Bessent also mentioned that he had discussed the issue with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer prior to the interview. Currently, the Trump administration maintains a 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, and has extended this tariff to include products such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers, basing the duty on the steel content value of these items.