U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross told the Wall Street Journal that trade actions on aluminum, semiconductors and shipbuilding are under review as well as plans to start free-trade talks directly with Japan , the United Kingdom and European Union even as plans to look at existing free-trade pacts with South Korea and the North America free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
In a wide ranging interview, Ross, 79, pledged to look at issues as diverse as providing support to Westinghouse Electric Co., the nuclear-reactor company owned by Japan's Toshiba (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6502.T-JP) that filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. last month.
The interview follows a decision to impose tariffs on farm products from Canada on softwood lumber and President Donald Trump issuing a tweet suggesting dairy products may be next.
The moves prompted a phone call late Tuesday between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who "refuted the baseless allegations" on lumber, according to Reuters, citing a statement, and saying that Canada will stick to NAFTA rules giving U.S. access to duty-free and quota-free access for milk protein substances.
Click here for the WSJ story.
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