TPP/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Negotiators from 11 Pacific Rim nations agreed Tuesday on a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, the Japanese minister in charge of TPP said, a year after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the talks.
The 11 nations were close to a deal at a summit in Vietnam in November but fell short at the last minute after Canada raised objections.
Negotiators gathered again in Tokyo on Tuesday and cleared away the remaining sticking points, said Toshimitsu Motegi, the Japanese minister handling the talks. He said the 11 nations aim to sign the agreement on March 8 in Chile…
News of a TPP deal comes as the latest round of trilateral talks aimed at revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement formally began in Montreal on Tuesday. Among the most contentious sticking points is on the automotive front, regarding a Trump administration demand that regional content of light vehicles made in North America be increased to 85% from the current 62.5%, and that half the vehicle’s parts be U.S.-made, to qualify for duty-free trade among the countries.
Both Canada and Mexico—which is also part of the TPP pact—oppose the U.S. Nafta proposal on autos and are preparing counteroffers during the Montreal talks.”
-Cheiko Tsuneoka, “TPP Members Reach Agreement on Major Trade Pact,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 23, 2018 10:17am