US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the US administration aims to finalise trade agreements with over a dozen countries in the coming months, with hopes of wrapping up its broader trade agenda by early September.

Speaking to Fox Business, Bessent outlined plans to reach deals with 10 to 12 of 18 key trading partners before the July 9 deadline, when a wave of steeper US tariffs is scheduled to take effect.

“If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day,” he said, referring to the September 1 holiday.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed similar expectations, noting that the administration was prioritising 10 core deals first, with others to follow.

The urgency stems from an April directive by the President Donald Trump, who imposed a 10% tariff on most US trading partners and unveiled higher rates targeting dozens of economies. That move was temporarily paused to allow negotiations—set to expire on July 9.

While many countries have scrambled to reach agreements before the deadline, the White House has hinted at possible flexibility. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday that the date “could be extended” and was “not critical,” though a final decision rests with the president.

So far, the US has announced a trade pact with the UK and agreed to temporarily ease tit-for-tat tariffs with China.