Remaining members of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement are working on a statement to reaffirm their commitment to it, despite the withdrawal of the United States, sources close to the discussions said.
Japan is leading the countries that still want to persist with the much more comprehensive TPP agreement, abandoned by Trump in one of his first acts in office and which does not include China.
Sources close to the discussions said the so-called TPP-11 nations - the 11 left after the United States withdrew - were planning a statement of commitment to the pact.
In other talks on the sidelines, China will be driving for progress on its favored trade deal for Asia: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
The free trade agreement doesn't cover as many areas as the TPP deal or demand tough conditions for members on issues such as protecting intellectual property, labor rights or the environment.
Given the uncertainty over TPP, the China-backed deal was now the priority for Malaysia
Submitted May 19, 2017 at 08:54AM by AyyMane http://ift.tt/2qZOKd6
