Kerry said international trade was critical to US interests and the TPP could help grow the economy. They are the United States, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. "The fact that it may not be taken up in the lame duck session isn't indicative of where the country may go, that's for sure," he said. Kerry also denied that the TPP was intended to create an economic bulwark against China's rise in the Asia-Pacific. "The United States welcomes the peaceful rise of a great nation like China, we've said that directly to President Xi (Jinping).

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 13, 2016 04:23 UTC