U.S. Makes Progress In TPP Market Access Talks, 'Political' Issues Remain

摘要

In the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, U.S. negotiators have essentially wrapped up bilateral goods market access talks with Malaysia, New Zealand and Brunei except for the most difficult, "political" issues, which may not be settled until much later in the overall negotiations, sources said. For instance, U.S. and New Zealand negotiators have essentially concluded talks on goods market access except for the sensitive issue of access for New Zealand dairy exports into the U.S. market; on that hot topic, the two sides have barely engaged at all. Last month, a U.S. negotiator suggested that the two sides are unlikely to make major headway on this topic until the end of the talks (Inside U.S. Trade, Sept. 14).