The Conversation with Dasha Burns Scott Bessent: ‘We're reordering the global economy’ | The Conversation
29 snips
Jan 23, 2026 
Scott Bessent, former investment manager and U.S. Treasury Secretary, discusses major shifts at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He argues that the U.S. is reordering the global economy by bringing back manufacturing and rebalancing trade. Bessent critiques the global elite consensus and emphasizes the importance of tariffs as negotiation tools. He addresses U.S.-China relations, market signals versus noise, and anticipates a strong economic outlook for 2026. Finally, he advocates for fair trade and job reshoring to strengthen the economy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
U.S. Is Reordering Global Trade
- Scott Bessent says the administration is "reordering the global economy" by shifting trade balances and bringing investment back to the U.S..
- He points to trade contributing positively to Q3 GDP and increased tariff revenue as evidence of that shift.
America First, Not America Alone
- Bessent frames "America First" as "not America alone," arguing the U.S. is asking partners for fairer burden-sharing and reciprocal trade.
- He says supply-chain fragility after COVID justifies reshoring critical industries and coordinating with G7 partners.
Use Emergency Powers To De‑risk Supply Chains
- Use emergency powers proactively to secure critical supply chains for rare earths and semiconductors.
- Bessent says preventing single points of failure now avoids bigger national emergencies later.
