Trump Asks Staff to Explore Returning US to TPP

President Donald Trump instructed staff members to explore having the U.S. rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership, during an April 12 meeting on trade with Congress members and governors from farm states. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said in a statement: “The best thing the United States can do to push back against Chinese cheating now is to lead the other eleven Pacific nations that believe in free trade and the rule of law. It is good news that today the President directed Larry Kudlow and ... [U.S. Trade Representative Robert] Lighthizer to negotiate U.S. entry into TPP.” Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., called the president's openness to rejoining negotiations encouraging in a tweet after the meeting. However, negotiations are complete on the TPP, as the other 11 countries -- including major trading partners Japan, Canada and Mexico -- have already signed the agreement.