U.S. President Trump seeks to promote "fair" trade with Japan

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abepose for a photograph as they walk to board Marine One departing for Andrews Air Force Base en route to West Palm Beach, Florida, after their joint press conference at the White Housein Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 10, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his country will seek to promote a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship with Japan. Trump made the remarks at a press conference after talks with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his country will seek to promote a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship with Japan.

Trump made the remarks at a press conference after talks with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeat the White House.

Trump said the U.S. will seek a trading relationship with Japan "that is free, fair and reciprocal, benefiting both of our countries."

During his presidential campaign last year, Trump had criticized Japan for its trade surplus with the United Statesand accused Japan of manipulating currency markets to lower its currency.

Upon taking office last month, Trump announced withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a sweeping trade deal between the United States and 11 other nations that included Japan.

Asked to comment on Trump's decision on the TPP, Abe said, "We are fully aware of President Trump's decision. On economic issues, we will be discussing at the working lunch to follow."

Abe said Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will create a new framework for economic dialogue, adding that "I am quite optimistic that the good results will be seen from the dialogue."

The U.S. president also reaffirmed Washington's security ties with Tokyo. He said that the U.S. is committed to the security of Japan and pledged to further strengthen the "very crucial" alliance between the two countries.

During the presidential campaign last year, Trump blasted as unfair U.S. defense obligations with allies, including Japan, raising concerns in Japan about his foreign policy priorities in Asia.

After the news conference, Trump and Abe will have a working lunch before boarding Air Force One and traveling to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. They will spend Saturday playing golf together.