STEVE MNUCHIN/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WTO: “President Donald Trump has been privately suggesting that he wants the US to withdraw from the World Trade Organization, according to a new report. Trump has been repeatedly telling White House officials he wants out from the global trade organization, Axios reported Friday [6-29-18]…The President’s economic advisers have pushed back when Trump raises the idea of withdrawing from the organization that regulates international trade, Axios reported, citing sources with direct knowledge. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin pushed back against the report during an interview Friday morning with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo, calling it ‘fake news…’ CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. About 160 countries belong to the WTO, including the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico and China. The WTO serves as a place to negotiate changes to existing agreements and, when issues come up, for member countries to mediate any disputes. The report comes after Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from the US’ biggest trading partners and slapped tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods.”
–Veronica Stracqualursi, “Axios: Trump privately says he wants to withdraw from WTO,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, June 29, 2018 1:14 pm