TRUMP CONSIDERS QUITTING HIS OWN TRADE DEAL President Donald Trump is privately weighing whether to exit the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade pact he signed during his first term, according to people familiar with the matter. He has asked aides why he shouldn’t withdraw, though he has not made a final decision. White House and trade officials say he is keeping options open while seeking tougher terms, including stronger rules of origin, labor protections and safeguards against dumping. The agreement faces a mandatory review by July 1. If renewed, it would last another 16 years. If not, it could trigger annual reviews or a full withdrawal with six months’ notice. Trump has already increased pressure on Canada and Mexico with tariff threats and trade disputes. Any U.S. exit would disrupt roughly $2 trillion in annual trade and could trigger retaliation, raising costs for businesses and consumers. While Trump has recently called the pact “irrelevant,” he has also previously praised it and suggested he may use the threat of withdrawal as leverage rather than actually leaving.(*Walter Bloomberg)