SYDNEY: Australia said Tuesday it was working to recast the Trans-Pacific Partnership without the United States and opened the door for China to sign up after President Donald Trump ditched the huge trade pact. “There is also the opportunity for the TPP to proceed without the United States,” he added. Trade Minister Steven Ciobo said Australia, Canada, Mexico and others had canvassed for a pact without the United States at a World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Davos. Trump said he would pursue bilateral deals with TPP signatories to secure terms more favourable to the US. “Also, it is still unknown if the Trump administration is really walking away from TPP or if it could be a negotiating bluff.

Source: Manila Times January 24, 2017 08:33 UTC