Washington DC, April 9 -- US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent on Wednesday (local time) addressed the immediate increase in tariffs of 125 per cent on China, stating that the issue is not just about the country but also about "bad actors" in global trade during a press briefing at the White House.

He emphasised that such a move focuses on countries like China, which have been contributing to imbalances in the global economy.

During the briefing, along with the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Bessent stated that trade negotiations amid the reciprocal tariff announcements were mainly taking place with "China's neighbours" like Japan, South Korea and India.

"Well, it's about bad actors. And what we see is some of the ...