Nobody knew a trade war with one of the world’s largest economies could be so complicated. But now Donald Trump appears to be cluing in, rather behind the curve as per usual. Several Republican senators began reporting Thursday that Trump has ordered his chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow to find a way back into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a signature Obama administration trade agreement that Trump absolutely excoriated during the 2016 campaign and pulled out of within days of his inauguration last year.
And Nebraska GOP Sen. Ben Sasse told reporters that Trump looked at Kudlow and said, “Larry, go get it done,” regarding rejoining the TPP.
Perhaps that go-it-alone trade war Trump initiated with China isn’t working out so well in farm country—the GOP senators from Kansas and Nebraska sure seemed eager to get the word out.
The change marks a major retreat for Trump on a trade deal he mocked mercilessly during the 2016 election. It was a “disaster,” a “job killer,” an “attack” on our country, and Republicans who supported it were “stupid.” Indeed, as of June 2016, it was plundering our country, in Trump’s estimation.
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country, just a continuing rape of our country,” Trump said. “That’s what it is, too. It’s a harsh word: It’s a rape of our country.”
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