Pacific trade talks formally start; too early to predict an agreement
Negotiation could collapse over issues from drug patents to dairy exports
Lahaina, Hawaii
TOP officials from 12 Asia-Pacific nations formally kicked off a four-day bid to hammer out a massive but so far elusive free-trade agreement that has been in the works for 6 years.
Speaking at the opening plenary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks in Hawaii, US Trade Representative Michael Froman told his counterparts they need to resolve the "tough political issues" standing in the way of a deal.
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