Australia, New Zealand and Japan scramble to rescue TPP following US exit

Tokyo

EFFORTS to salvage the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after its apparent scuttling by US President Donald Trump moved into higher gear on Tuesday as Australia and New Zealand joined Japan in rescue initiatives while suggesting that China and others could be invited to join the pact.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had held discussions with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the possibility of proceeding with the TPP without the United States.

This came hours after the newly installed US president issued an executive order in the Oval Office on Monday fulfi…