President Donald Trump has directed senior aides to explore re-joining the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership if a “better deal” can be reached, the White House said Thursday. But the White House was quick to point out that Trump’s decision, rather than a flip-flop, was consistent with earlier statements. After taking office, Trump decided not to withdraw from NAFTA and from a free trade pact with South Korea, despite his threats to do so, preferring to renegotiate those deals. The Washington Post reported that Trump had made the sudden decision to reconsider TPP during a meeting with legislators and state governors on trade. Some said joining the trade pact could strengthen the US position in the current trade spat with China, which is not a party to the agreement.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 12, 2018 21:56 UTC