Japan, US might hold trade talks

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday it was possible Tokyo and Washington could hold bilateral free trade talks in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this week. Fulfilling a campaign pledge Trump signed an executive order on Monday pulling the United States out of the TPP and distancing Washington from its Asian allies. Trump said the TPP would rob Americans of jobs and investment. Trump has made it clear that he favours two-way trade deals over multilateral ones. – Reuters