Pacific trade talks formally start; too early to predict an agreement

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.