U.S. Treasury Secretary Unconcerned by New Trade Bloc
January 24 2018 - 5:20AM
Dow Jones News
By Deborah Ball
Davos, SWITZERLAND--U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
expressed little concern over the decision by 11 countries to forge
a new commercial bloc that excludes the U.S.
During a briefing at the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland, Mr. Mnuchin responded to Tuesday's speech by Canadian
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who extolled the new pact. Canada is
part of the multination deal.
Mr. Mnuchin said the Trump administration are "fans of bilateral
trading agreements," adding that "anyone who wants to do trade on a
reciprocal basis [with the U.S.] is free to do it."
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, also present at Wednesday's
briefing, suggested Mr. Trudeau's remarks were meant to "put some
pressure on the U.S." in the midst of ongoing talks to revamp the
North American Free Trade Agreement.
The officials' briefing comes ahead U.S. President Donald
Trump's arrival in Davos on Thursday. On Friday, he is slated to
give a keynote address to the gathering of world leaders and top
corporate leaders.
Write to Deborah Ball at deborah.ball@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 24, 2018 05:05 ET (10:05 GMT)
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