President Trump’s vocal antipathy toward multilateral trade deals has overshadowed a seemingly contrary, and certainly praiseworthy, inclination of his administration: the pursuit of bilateral trade deals with crucial trading partners.

Japan is on Trump’s mind this weekend as Prime Minister Shinzō Abe visited the White House Friday. The two leaders are discussing, among other matters, a U.S.-Japan trade deal. Critics never thought Japan would entertain such a deal after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 12-way Trans-Pacific Partnership. But economic reality weighs heavier than hurt feelings, and both countries know they will be better off if they can work out a trade deal that reduces distortions.