Asia-Pacific Heads to Hash Out Trade Deal as Clock Ticks

Asia-Pacific leaders will seek momentum on talks for a sweeping 12-nation trade pact when they meet in Bali in coming days, trying to overcome concessions sought by countries that threaten to further delay completion.

President Barack Obama canceled plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit due to the U.S. government’s partial shutdown, with Secretary of State John Kerry instead leading the U.S. delegation, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. The list of demands from parties to the talks, amid pressure to protect key industries, means the U.S. will be hard pressed to show progress.