"A statement of agreement by the TPP 11 has finally been sealed and the 11 countries agreed to go ahead with preparations for signing it," Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters after a meeting of officials in Tokyo. The agreement came following a two-day meeting of the chief negotiators of the 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nations in Tokyo. The 11 members will work towards signing the final accord "by early March," a statement said. The agreement would incorporate all commitments from the original TPP, except for a limited number of provisions suspended temporarily, and some remaining issues to be finalised. Several remaining members, however, pushed hard for its revival following the US withdrawal, notably New Zealand and Japan.

Source: The Nation Bangkok January 23, 2018 15:45 UTC