On January 23, 2017, the President signed Presidential Memorandum Regarding Withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations and Agreement. The memorandum, which is addressed to the US Trade Representative, sets forth the new Administration’s policy “to represent the American people and their financial well-being in all negot[i]ations [sic], particularly the American worker, and to create fair and economically beneficial trade deals that serve their interests.” The memorandum continues that in order to ensure these outcomes, it is the intention of the new Administration to “deal directly with individual countries on a one-on-one (or bilateral) basis in negotiating future trade deals. Trade with other nations is, and always will be, of paramount importance.”
The memorandum directs the USTR to “withdraw the United States as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to permanently withdraw the United States from TPP negotiations, and to begin pursuing, wherever possible, bilateral trade negotiations to promote American industry, protect American workers, and raise American wages.” The memorandum further directs USTR to provide written notification to the Parties and the Depository (New Zealand).
