Battle of the trade pacts surfaces at Apec summit in Lima

Tokyo

HEADS of the 12 nations that have signed on to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal - including US President Barack Obama - came together over the weekend in a show of support for the pact. But its fate rests in Washington where president-elect Donald Trump has expressed strong opposition to having the US ratify it.

Meanwhile, China President Xi Jinping sought to lure Asia-Pacific leaders who are backing the China-excluded TPP agreement to support an alternative and wider grouping that would involve China. At a summit meeting in Lima, he dangled the carrot of increased access to China's vast markets in return.

A battle between the US and China for pole position in East Asia, in economic as well as security terms, is seen as being centred on the TPP, which is a key element of Mr Obama's "pivot" towards the region. But…