Donald Trump's trade strategy starts with quitting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, White House says
Updated Fri at 8:24pm
The new US administration of President Donald Trump has said its trade strategy to protect American jobs would start with withdrawal from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact.
Key points:
TPP proponents say abandoning the project would strengthen China's hand in the region
White House statement says Trump also aims to negotiate NAFTA
The TPP was a major pillar of Obama's economic 'pivot' to Asia-Pacific region
A White House statement issued soon after Mr Trump's inauguration said the United States would also "crack down on those nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers in the process".
The statement said Mr Trump was committed to renegotiating another trade deal, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was signed in 1994 by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"For too long, Americans have been forced to accept trade deals that put the interests of insiders and the Washington elite over the hard-working men and women of this country," it said.
"As a result, blue-collar towns and cities have watched their factories close and good-paying jobs move overseas, while Americans face a mounting trade deficit and a devastated manufacturing base."
The statement said "tough and fair agreements" on trade could be used to grow the US economy and return millions of jobs to America.
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