President Trump on Monday notified Congress that he had struck an “initial” trade deal with Japan and would be signing it in the coming weeks.
“My Administration looks forward to continued collaboration with the Congress on further negotiations with Japan to achieve a comprehensive trade agreement that results in more fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and Japan,” the White House said in a statement announcing the trade agreement.
Trump also told Congress that he would be entering an executive agreement with Japan on digital trade.
{mosads}The administration did not disclose details of the trade agreement.
The announcement of an in initial trade deal comes after Trump said at the Group of Seven summit in August that he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had reached a deal in principle.
“It involves agriculture, and it involves e-commerce and many other things. It’s a very big transaction, and we’ve agreed in principle,” Trump said at the time.
The agreement could be a win for a president who has been embroiled in trade wars, particularly with China.
Trump has managed to negotiate and sign an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement, but it is unclear whether Congress will approve the treaty, called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said she would not advance the bill without stronger enforcement mechanisms on issues such as labor and environment.
Trump has also signed an updated trade deal with South Korea, though critics say the changes were minor and largely cosmetic.
White House officials are expected to continue trade talks with China, and a high-level negotiation is planned for October. Trump has imposed tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports as part of their trade war, and China has retaliated with a slew of tariffs in response.