Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent spent Friday meeting with foreign finance officials on a wide range of U.S. priorities. Treasury readouts released April 19 show the talks focused on Iran, energy markets, critical minerals, trade coordination, and illicit-finance enforcement.
Gulf Talks Focus On Iran, Energy
Bessent met with Qatar Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and Bahrain Finance Minister and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa.
Those talks centered on Iran and regional stability, Treasury said. Bessent discussed Iran’s attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the broader economic fallout. He also stressed the need to deter future Iranian attacks and protect energy and broader markets from further disruption.
Treasury said Bessent welcomed Qatar’s continued investment in the United States. The department also said he thanked Bahrain for working with Washington to crack down on Iranian illicit financing.
Canada Meeting Highlights Minerals, USMCA
Bessent also met with Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
The two discussed the conflict with Iran, energy markets, and ways to expand U.S.-Canada critical minerals collaboration, Treasury said. They also stressed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship ahead of the USMCA review.
The readout said Bessent encouraged Canada to keep assisting the Trump administration’s efforts to combat drug-trafficking-related illicit financing.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Bessent’s earlier talks with Champagne also touched on trade friction, sanctions coordination, and strategic mineral supply chains. That made the latest meeting part of a broader run of U.S.-Canada economic-security talks.
South Korea Talks Include Trade, AI, Currency
In a separate meeting, Bessent met with South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol.
Treasury said the two discussed implementation of the U.S.-Korea Trade and Investment Agreement. They also discussed a finalized U.S.-Korea critical minerals framework and South Korea’s push to become a global artificial intelligence hub.
Both sides agreed excessive volatility in the Korean won is not desirable, Treasury said. The two countries will continue consultations on foreign exchange developments.
Netherlands Meeting Centers On G20 Priorities
Bessent also met with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen.
That discussion focused on U.S. G20 priorities and global financial literacy, Treasury said. The department also highlighted Queen Máxima’s work as the United Nations secretary-general’s special advocate for financial health.
Taken together, the readouts show Treasury using bilateral meetings for more than routine diplomacy. They also show the administration pushing allies to align on key economic and geopolitical priorities as conflict with Iran and supply-chain competition remain in focus.