Facing US pressure, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said today that Tokyo was ready to begin talks about "trade deals" with the United States, but was careful not to commit to a bilateral deal.
After rising demands for fairer trade from his US host President Donald Trump, Abe said "we have agreed to start talks for free, fair and reciprocal trade deals."
"I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse on behalf of the United States, I would do it." "But I like bilateral better. I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers and I much would prefer a bilateral deal."
Insisting the "relationship is a very good one," Trump nonetheless broke with the usual diplomatic niceties, urging Abe do more to make trade "free, fair and reciprocal."
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