US President Barack Obama holds meeting with Trans-Pacific Partnership leaders at the Apec summit in Lima, Peru, on Saturday. Although it is unclear whether the free trade pact will come into force under a new Trump administration, the leaders did not discuss the possibility of implementing the TPP without the participation of the United States, the official said. Obama "urged his fellow leaders to continue to work together to advance TPP," it said. During the hour-long meeting, the TPP leaders underscored the significance of the pact, both economically and strategically, in ensuring stability and prosperity for the region, according to the official. Mexico's economy minister had suggested prior to Saturday's meeting that the other TPP signatories could move forward with bringing the agreement into force without the United States.

Source: Bangkok Post November 20, 2016 21:07 UTC