Japan Taking Lead on TPP Without U.S.

Japan is seeking to revive TPP without the United States.  Earlier this year, President Trump in January removed the U.S. from the deal that was estimated to be worth more than $4 billion to U.S. agriculture.  Now, Japan is seeking to amend the deal to 11 nations, cutting out the U.S., and moving forward.

The Nikkei Asian Review reports Japan has confirmed that President Trump would not object to the deal moving forward without the U.S., paving the way for a possible final agreement.  Tokyo aims to hold a TPP ministers meeting in Vietnam in late May to consider ways an 11-member pact could be brought into force.  Doing so would require those members to settle on a revision to exclude the United States.  However, for some countries, that means reopening the deal to renegotiation.

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