PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has just signed a memo withdrawing the US from the controversial trade deal known as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
In the past hour, the new US leader signed a number of documents which will also see a federal government hiring freeze and an order limiting funding of foreign NGOs backing abortion.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership was a trade agreement among twelve of the Pacific Rim countries designed to boost trade in the region.
The 70-year-old property tycoon had outlined a list of priorities for his first 100 days and executive actions to be taken “on day one”, on half a dozen issues from trade to immigration, national security and ethics, in a push to “reform Washington and rebuild our middle class”.
“My agenda will be based on a simple core principle: putting America first,” said the president, whose victorious campaign tapped the anger of working-class Americans who feel left behind by globalisation, singling out trade deals such as the TPP as key culprits.
“On trade, I am going to issue our notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country,” said Trump in a video message prior to his inauguration.
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