Trump goes to Davos, gets booed and schmoozes investors
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Friday that US economic growth promoted by his policies would help the world, seeking to square his "America first" agenda with globalism.
"When the US grows, so does the world," Trump said in a speech to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
"American prosperity has created countless jobs around the globe and the drive for excellence, creativity and innovation in the US has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives."
Trump is the first US president to visit the conference in 18 years, and he made his government’s presence felt with a large delegation of cabinet secretaries and top White House aides. His plenary address, though, was largely boilerplate.
Trump boasted of US economic performance under his leadership and urged co-operation with the American effort to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile weapons programmes and combat terrorism - routine themes of his speeches, especially to international audiences.
Trump was booed by some of the Davos audience after complaining about “vicious” and “fake” news organisation
He told the audience that the US still supports free trade as long as it is "fair and reciprocal."
"The US is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial, bilateral trade agreements with all countries," he said.
But he then suggested an exception for Pacific Rim countries that were part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership he abandoned last year.
The US already has trade agreements with some of those 11 countries, he said, and "we would consider negotiating with the rest, either individually or perhaps as a group if it is in the interests of all."