Trump officials have given Australia tacit approval on TPP, Obama economist says

Matthew Goodman says the US will look to Australia to advance issues of mutual interest without actively joining trade pact

A former Obama administration official says he believes the Trump administration has given Australia tacit approval to move ahead with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, despite the president disavowing and dumping the agreement as one of his first acts in office.

Matthew Goodman, who served as White House coordinator for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) and the East Asia Summit in the previous administration, told Guardian Australia he believed the Trump administration had given Australia licence to "just keep the seat warm for the United States".

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