Trump and Trade
Trans-Pacific Partnership proceeds without the United States
"Ministers are pleased to announce that they have agreed on the core elements of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)," said a Friday statement from the 11 nations participating in the trade deal.
The United States was originally the 12th signatory to the TPP in 2016, but President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement, which he once called "a rape of our country," immediately after taking office. On Thursday, Trump complained at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where the TPP announcement also took place, that "while we lowered market barriers, other countries didn't open their markets to us."
TPP negotiations have continued since U.S. withdrawal, and on Friday Vietnamese Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh said participants have now "overcome the hardest part."