TOKYO, Nov. 3 — Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Nov. 2 that Japan is determined to strike a new trade agreement in principle on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States during the Nov. 8-9 ministerial meeting in Vietnam.
“I am determined to make a new deal at the meeting,” said Motegi at a press conference.
Officials from the 11 TPP members met in Urayasu city, near Tokyo, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. They managed to narrow differences, by focusing the list of provisions that will be put on ice in the hopes that the U.S. will return to the TPP.
The negotiators now hope progress they made may be finalized when their trade ministers meet at the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnamese resort of Danang on Nov. 8-9.