Trump Gave the Japanese Prime Minister a Break on Trade, For Now

President Donald Trump did Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a favor last week, delaying the start of negotiations on a tricky trade decision, potentially pushing it past that country's elections in July, three officials briefed on the talks tell TIME.

Trump has said repeatedly that he values his relationship with Abe, and his decision to ignore the advice of Special Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that the two negotiate on Japanese auto exports and U.S.

President Donald Trump did Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a favor last week, delaying the start of negotiations on a tricky trade decision, potentially pushing it past that country's elections in July, three officials briefed on the talks tell TIME. Trump has said repeatedly that he values his relationship with Abe, and his decision to ignore the advice of Special Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that the two negotiate on Japanese auto exports and U.S.