Japan, US feel TPP deal pressure amid US elections

Tokyo

AMID what appears to be an attempt to present the next United States president with a fait accompli over approval of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, a key committee of the Japanese parliament has pushed through a bill ratifying Japan's participation in the proposed 12-nation deal.

The bill passed the lower house (House of Representatives) last Friday despite a walk-out of the session by opposition parties opposed to the TPP. It is expected to be passed also by a plenary session of parliament's lower house early this week before being sent to the upper house or House of Councillors.