EconomyBessent Discussed the ‘Desirability’ of a Strong Yen With Katayama
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his latest meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama included a discussion about the “desirability” of a strong yen.
United States Secretary of the Treasury
United States Secretary of the Treasury (2025–)
| Born | 1962-08-21 · Conway, South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Party | Republican |
| Offices |
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| Education | Yale University (BA) |
Portrait: United States Department of the Treasury · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
What this person said on the record, as reported, newest first.

The program examines the Bank of Japan’s rate increase at its fastest pace since 1990, along with debate over policy normalization and the wider economic discussion involving Bessent.
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Bloomberg Television

The Bank of Japan is poised for a pivotal rate hike following pressure from Bessent.
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Bloomberg News

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent challenged traders to test his resolve to boost Japan’s currency, saying that if the US intervenes in the yen market, he has strong insight into the likely actions of Japan, the Bank of Japan and Japanese policymakers.
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Bloomberg Television

The yen steadied near 160 per dollar on Tuesday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent intensified pressure on the Bank of Japan to raise rates this month. Investors remained cautious as bonds sold off following renewed attacks in the Gulf.
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Reuters

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he was confident that Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda would act in what he considers the best interest of Japan’s economy. Public broadcaster NHK reported the remarks on Wednesday. Bessent’s comment expressed trust in Ueda’s judgment regarding the country’s economic policy. No further policy action was specified.
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Reuters
Reports that mention this person, by story.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his latest meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama included a discussion about the “desirability” of a strong yen.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda raised rates as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wanted, but he is also facing pressure from his own government, making the balancing act increasingly difficult.
The program examines the Bank of Japan’s rate increase at its fastest pace since 1990, along with debate over policy normalization and the wider economic discussion involving Bessent.

The Bank of Japan is poised for a pivotal rate hike following pressure from Bessent.
When Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama called U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in June for help supporting the plunging yen, he delivered a familiar message: Tokyo would need to put its fiscal house in order if it wanted assistance.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington’s engagement with Japan over currency intervention was part of an ongoing dialogue. He says Japan’s finance ministry is highly transparent with the US and that the amount used by the US was nominal.

Bankers warn that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s claims of insider knowledge could erode market perceptions of the Bank of Japan’s independence.
Scott Bessent’s public campaign to push up the yen is lifting expectations that the Bank of Japan will embark on monetary tightening on a scale unseen for more than a generation. Markets could be disrupted if policymakers fail to deliver.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s latest effort to cool what he called the market’s “fever” backfired, triggering a sharp sell-off in bonds and a slide in stocks.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent challenged traders to test his resolve to boost Japan’s currency, saying that if the US intervenes in the yen market, he has strong insight into the likely actions of Japan, the Bank of Japan and Japanese policymakers.
