TPP11 ministers move ahead as Lighthizer rules out U.S. joining trade deal

摘要

HANOI - Trade officials from the Trans-Pacific Partnership signatories reiterated their commitment to finding a way for the deal to enter into force without the U.S., announcing here on May 21 they have tasked senior officials to assess a path forward ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in November. Hours after the announcement, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, during the concluding press conference at an APEC trade ministers meeting, ruled out any possibility that the U.S. could eventually join the 11-nation pact - citing instead the Trump administration's preference to negotiate bilateral deals with "willing" countries in the region.