President Donald Trump is willing to negotiate the country's return to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, according to Bloomberg News, as a TPP agreement forged by the 11 remaining members is set to be signed in March.
"He's willing to negotiate," Mnuchin said to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, adding that he has begun "very high-level discussions" on the regional trade pact.
"Whether we do multilaterals or we consider going back into TPP, again that's something that's on the table."
Mnuchin said the U.S. will focus on its bilateral deals first before reviewing its TPP stance, according to Bloomberg. "It's not a priority at the moment, but it is something the president will consider," he added.
Trump has criticized the TPP deal and pulled out of the regional trade pact after taking office in 2017. But in January he said he was open to rejoining if terms were "substantially" improved.
The chief TPP negotiator for Japan has said it would be very difficult to reopen talks to accommodate the U.S.
The U.S. should be prepared to accept the treaty as it is if it hopes to rejoin, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who will host the treaty's signing, told the Nikkei Asian Review on Feb. 26.
