U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said inflation is cooling faster than expected and confirmed progress toward a tariff-reduction framework with China. Speaking in a national television interview, he cited moderating core PCE inflation and improving consumer confidence as indicators of a soft landing. Bessent also reiterated the administration’s intent to maintain fiscal stability while pursuing fair-trade normalization with Beijing. Economists viewed his remarks as reinforcing expectations of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut next week and renewed optimism across global equity and bond markets.