Leaders from the 12 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries met on Wednesday in the Philippines to discuss next steps in implementing the trade pact, pushing for its swift approval while highlighting the interest of potential new entrants from the Asia-Pacific region.
The talks, held in Manila during the first day of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, marked the first time that leaders of the TPP group have met since the conclusion of trade negotiations by ministers last month in the US city of Atlanta. (See Bridges Weekly, 8 October 2015)
“We are pleased that the negotiated text of the TPP agreement is now available in full for review and consideration before it is signed. We look forward following signature to the expeditious consideration and approval of the TPP, consistent with each of our domestic processes,” the 12 leaders said in a joint statement following the 18 November discussions.
This has been excerpted from a 19 November 2015 news item by The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and is available in its entirety at: http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/tpp-leaders-push-for-swift-ratification-of-trade-deal-following-manila