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U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a closely-watched closing speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday afternoon, reiterating the "America First" policy but toning down his rhetoric.
"As President of the United States, I will always put America First," Trump told global business elite in this Swiss ski resort. "America first does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world."
The U.S. president also expressed his willingness to negotiate bilateral free trade deals with countries including those in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the 48th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he would always put America first when it came to trade, but "America First" does not mean America alone.
"We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and reciprocal. Because in the end, unfair trade undermines us all," he said.
"Only by insisting on fair and reciprocal trade, can we create a system that works not just for the United States but for all nations.
The United States, he said, is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreements with all countries. This includes the countries in TPP 11.
"We would consider negotiating with the rest, either individually, or perhaps as a group, if it is in all of our interests," added Trump.
On Thursday, the U.S. president had signaled the reconsideration in an interview with CNBC in Davos, saying "I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal".
US President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on January 26, 2018.
Trump, who was the first incumbent U.S. president to attend the Davos WEF forum since Bill Clinton in 2000, also took the time to show off the achievements of the U.S. economy since his administration came into power one year ago.
Saying "America is roaring back", the U.S. president said his administration has dramatically cut taxes to "make America competitive".
According to Trump, the U.S. lowered its corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, and the tax cut bill is expected to raise the average American's household income by more than 4,000 U.S. dollars.
Calling on business leaders to bring business, jobs and investments to the United States, Trump said "It is the perfect time".
Crowds line up at the entry to the Congress Hall where US President Donald Trump is to deliver a speech on the last day of the World Economic Forum on January 26, 2018.
Over foreign policy, Trump repeated his hard-line stance on such issues as the Korean peninsula, Iran, fight against terrorism, and Islamic State.
In the Q&A session following his speech, the U.S. president also took the chance to attack the "nasty, mean, vicious and very fake" media, which prompted boos from the audience.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
