Japan's Aso: welcomes the US taking a fresh look at TPP - Reuters

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso stated on Friday that he welcomes the US taking a second look at the Trans-Pacific Partnership as Chinese tariffs threaten to squeeze US agriculture businesses.

Key quotes:

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso on Friday said he would welcome a move by the United States to explore rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, following news that President Donald Trump wanted to take a fresh look at the trade pact.

“If it’s true, I would welcome it,” he told reporters after a cabinet meeting. Aso added that he expected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump to discuss TPP at their summit meeting next week.

Trump has asked his trade advisers to look at rejoining TPP, a multinational trade pact he withdrew the United States from last year, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said.