Trump and Abe discuss trade, North Korea

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, right, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe, left, walk at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, right, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe, left, walk at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.   | Photo Credit: AP

The two-day Trump-Abe summit is playing out amid growing tensions over trade and North Korea.

President Donald Trump is seeking to reassure Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of their close alliance ahead of Trump’s planned talks with North Korea.

The two-day Trump-Abe summit is playing out amid growing tensions over trade and North Korea.

Officials signal Mr. Trump is open to considering exempting Japan from new steel and aluminum tariffs that Mr. Abe opposes.

Mr. Trump also gave Mr. Abe a win on Tuesday, pledging to raise the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea, a top Japanese priority, in his meeting with Kim.

But Mr. Trump later suggested there was one area where he and Abe would have to agree to disagree- the Trans-Pacific trade partnership, which Trump pulled the U.S. out of days after his inauguration, but has recently said he might be open to re-joining.