In a move he described as a "great thing for the American worker", President Trump signed an order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Monday. The trade deal, negotiated by former President Obama with great support from the American business sector, has been described by Republicans as harmful to U.S. manufacturing by paving the way for companies to outsource jobs to plants in Asia. While withdrawing from the TPP means loosening ties with Asia, observers say the President could reassure allies such Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam by created separate trades agreements with those countries. Trump will be meeting with representatives from labor unions as well as workers later today.
See "Trump pulls U.S. out of Pacific trade deal, loosening Asia ties", Roberta Rampton and Steve Holland, Daily Mail, January 23, 2017