TPP Trade Deal Gets Bogged Down Near Finish Line
- Japan’s Abe told regional leaders he welcomed framework deal
- TPP leaders’ meeting put off, no statement yet issued
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After a day of confusion, a much-anticipated framework agreement on a Pacific trade deal was at risk of being scuppered, raising the prospect the pact -- already many years in the making -- could be delayed further.
Trade ministers from the 11 countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership reached a tentative agreement in Vietnam on Thursday, according to an official with direct knowledge of the talks. However, a Friday meeting of TPP-country leaders to approve the plan was deferred and the deal is now in flux, the official said, asking not to be identified when discussing private matters.