On Friday, one of Mr. Trump’s top advisers on trade said the Trump administration
planned to use the scorned agreement as a “starting point” for its own deals.
This view resonates deeply with the president, who noted on Friday that tough talk about trade is “probably one of the main reasons I’m here.”
Another group, which includes many of the economic advisers Mr. Trump has added since the election, like Gary D. Cohn, the director of the National Economic Council, are convinced
that measured actions on trade will produce better results.
as the starting point from which we are going to build.”
Mr. Trump is also using tougher language than his lieutenants in the run-up to his meeting next week with Mr. Xi.