Japan, Vietnam urge US to rejoin Pacific trade deal

Japan and Vietnam yesterday urged the United States to rejoin a sprawling Pacific trade deal, almost two years after President Donald Trump’s withdrawal dealt a major blow to what would have been the world’s largest free trade pact, reports AFP from Hanoi.

Trump pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal in one of his first post-election moves as part of his “America First” clarion call, declaring the 12-nation trade pact a “job killer”.

The 11 remaining countries have pledged to move ahead with the deal, which could go into effect by the end of this year, although in a significantly watered-down version without the US. They have kept a door open for Washington’s return, and have also not ruled out allowing other non-Pacific countries to join the deal.

Japan’s foreign minister on Thursday encouraged the US to come back to the pact, speaking at a regional World Economic Forum (WEF) where concerns over trade protectionism have dominated discussions.

Japan, Vietnam urge US to rejoin Pacific trade deal

Japan and Vietnam yesterday urged the United States to rejoin a sprawling Pacific trade deal, almost two years after President Donald Trumps withdrawal dealt a major blow to what would have been the worlds largest free trade pact, reports AFP from Hanoi. Trump pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal in one of his first post-election moves as part of his America First clarion call, declaring the 12-nation trade pact a job killer. The 11 remaining countries have pledged to move ahead with the deal, which could go into effect by the end of this year, although in a significantly watered-down version without the US. They have kept a door open for Washingtons return, and have also not ruled out allowing other non-Pacific countries to join the deal. Japans foreign minister on Thursday encouraged the US to come back to the pact, speaking at a regional World Economic Forum (WEF) where concerns over trade protectionism have dominated discussions.