AsianFin -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg Television that the Bank of Japan is likely to raise interest rates, citing concerns that the central bank is behind the curve in addressing inflation risks.

Bessent’s comments mark his most direct statement yet on Japan’s monetary policy, standing in contrast to Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, who has consistently dismissed concerns that the central bank is moving too slowly to curb rising inflation.