Trump Says He Doesn't Like TPP after 1st-Day Talks with Abe

Palm Beach, Florida, April 17 (Jiji Press)--U.S. President Donald Trump took a negative stance on the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free trade initiative on Tuesday. "While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don't like the deal for the United States," Trump said on Twitter after dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump made the remark even after he instructed his government staff last week to consider rejoining the TPP, from which he withdrew his country soon after his inauguration in January 2017. Abe is eager for the United States to return to the TPP. There are "too many contingencies and no way to get out if it (the TPP) doesn't work," the president claimed. "Bilateral deals are far more efficient, profitable and better for our workers." Trump, who has expressed frustration with his country's large trade deficit with Japan, could make tough demands to the Japanese side on trade issues during a two-day summit with Abe through Wednesday, observers said. Meanwhile, Abe is expected to ask the president to exempt Japan from recently imposed U.S. tariffs on imported aluminum and steel. END