Obama tries to ease Trump concerns

LIMA, Peru — Warning against a rush to judgment, President Obama sought Saturday to ease concerns in Latin America that President-elect Donald Trump will wipe out trade deals and create other international problems. Obama pressed leaders of the other 11 countries in the Pacific agreement to “find ways to ensure that trade agreements contribute to our shared objective of reducing inequality,” according to a White House statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping made an impassioned call against protectionism Saturday as Chinese state media blasted Trump for trade-bashing that could drag the world into “deeper economic distress.” Since Obama opened the final foreign trip of his presidency in Greece on Tuesday, he has tried to reassure his counterparts that the U.S. will uphold its partnerships and obligations despite the divisive rhetoric of a campaign that ended with the election of a real estate mogul and reality TV star with no political or government experience.