Abe Open to Bilateral Trade Deal With U.S. After Trump Exits TPP

by Dramelin 12:30 AM 0 comments abe bilateral deal defense exits japan japans minister open tpp trade trump visit washington

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signaled that he?s open to a bilateral trade deal with the U.S. after Donald Trump formally withdrew from a 12-nation Asia-Pacific accord this week in one of his first acts as president. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada told parliament she welcomed the visit as a sign of America?s interest in Asia. Trump prefers to negotiate bilateral trade deals and has warned that he might withdraw U.S. troops from South Korea and Japan if allies did not pay more for their services. One-on-one talks with the U.S. on a trade deal are ?not absolutely impossible,? Abe told lawmakers on Thursday in Tokyo, adding that he?s finalizing negotiations for a summit with Trump. Abe, a key proponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade agreement, is seeking ways to boost economic relations with Japan?s only military ally.