ADVERTISEMENTHANOI, Vietnam — Pacific Rim trade ministers meeting in Vietnam committed Sunday to move ahead with the Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact after the United States pulled out. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay said the remaining 11 TPP countries are open to others joining provided they accept the trade agreement's high standards on labour and environmental protection. Japan's trade minister, Hiroshige Seko (left), talks with Canada's international trade minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, after their bilateral talk during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 23rd trade ministers' meeting at the National Convention Center in Hanoi on May 20. The trade ministers said in a statement that they agreed to launch a process to assess options to bring the agreement into force "expeditiously, including how to facilitate membership for the original signatories.'' Canada's international trade minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, leaves a press conference during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 23rd trade ministers' meeting in Hanoi on May 21.

Source: Huffington Post May 21, 2017 16:18 UTC