Abe sells trade deal to US Congress with war condolences

Washington

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged the US government to work closely with his country to finish an ambitious Asia-Pacific trade deal that he said would promote democracy and freedom in the region.

In a speech to a joint meeting of Congress, Mr Abe took the opportunity to pitch a somewhat reluctant audience - particularly Democratic lawmakers - on the 12-nation trade agreement, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.