Alan Bollard, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) secretariat, told The Straits Times that the leaders will review their options with outgoing US President Barack Obama. Leaders may have to consider renegotiating parts of the pact, but Bollard, a former governor of New Zealand's central bank, felt there was "negotiation fatigue" after protracted talks to conclude the TPP. "It will be up to the members of the TPP to decide. The TPP began as a pact by Singapore, Brunei, Chile and New Zealand to push forward on free trade across the Pacific, and found support among like-minded countries. It is possible the remaining members could move forward without the US, but Bollard said it would be greatly diminished in this form.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 14, 2016 07:01 UTC