President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to hold bilateral talks aimed at reaching a trade agreement, Mr. Trump’s top trade negotiator said Wednesday. Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. out of TPP early in his administration, saying he preferred bilateral trade deals. As part of an agreement to talk, Mr. Abe appeared to win a promise from President Trump to refrain from imposing auto tariffs on Japan as long as negotiations are ongoing. Mr. Trump in May said his administration was considering imposing global auto tariffs in the name of national security. In a similar deal with the European Union in July, Mr. Trump also pledged to avoid imposing auto tariffs while negotiations were ongoing.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 26, 2018 20:07 UTC