Time for trade talks with Britain

Hours after scrapping the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Trump White House explained that the president supports "free and fair trade."

TPP couldn't get through the last Congress, so it was already stalled indefinitely. But it is not just for that reason that scrapping it now contains a certain logic. It was a flawed deal, as any deal that requires the signatures of a dozen different countries is likely to be. So one can oppose a specific deal such as the TPP while at the same time supporting free trade in general.

The important thing is for President Trump not to wield sweeping and ill-defined support of "free and fair trade" as a way to oppose all trade liberalization when it comes to particulars.

If Trump really does want to help the economy grow and protect workers, he should move swiftly on the trade strategy White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declared repeatedly in Monday's briefing, which is to pursue one-on-one deals with key nations.

Trump ought to start with a deal with Britain.