Off the wire
• Norwegian skier Therese Johaug banned 13 months for doping  • U.S. stocks extend record run after Trump's remarks  • Italy's industrial production increases by 1.6 pct in 2016  • Irish property prices up 8.1 pct last year  • German parliament in bid to defund far-right political party  • Huawei video surveillance solution supports French city to build intelligent "safe city"  • President Trump lauds "very, very good" conversation with Chinese President Xi  • U.S. Fed board member Tarullo announces resignation  • Zambia's access to information bill ready: minister  • Spanish PM, new EP president talks about Brexit challenges in Madrid  
You are here: 　 Home

U.S. President Trump seeks to promote "fair" trade with Japan

Xinhua, February 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his country will seek to promote a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship with Japan.

Trump made the remarks at a press conference after talks with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House.

Trump said the U.S. will seek a trading relationship with Japan "that is free, fair and reciprocal, benefiting both of our countries."

During his presidential campaign last year, Trump had criticized Japan for its trade surplus with the United States and accused Japan of manipulating currency markets to lower its currency.

Upon taking office last month, Trump announced withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a sweeping trade deal between the United States and 11 other nations that included Japan.

Asked to comment on Trump's decision on the TPP, Abe said, "We are fully aware of President Trump's decision. On economic issues, we will be discussing at the working lunch to follow."

Abe said Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will create a new framework for economic dialogue, adding that "I am quite optimistic that the good results will be seen from the dialogue."

The U.S. president also reaffirmed Washington's security ties with Tokyo. He said that the U.S. is committed to the security of Japan and pledged to further strengthen the "very crucial" alliance between the two countries.

During the presidential campaign last year, Trump blasted as unfair U.S. defense obligations with allies, including Japan, raising concerns in Japan about his foreign policy priorities in Asia.

After the news conference, Trump and Abe will have a working lunch before boarding Air Force One and traveling to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. They will spend Saturday playing golf together. Endit