Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said 70 countries had reached out to negotiate with the U.S. over levies. (Chris Kleponis/Zuma Press)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration was open to negotiating deals to reduce tariffs, and denied the market selloff had led the White House to change its approach.

Bessent denied reports he visited President Trump in Florida over the weekend to urge him to change his messaging over levies.

“I would say the negotiations are a result of the massive inflow of inbound calls to come and negotiate,” he said. “It had nothing to do with the market.”