Japan not keen to bring China into the TPP fold

Tokyo

JAPAN is cool to the notion of inviting China to join a pan-Pacific trade pact abandoned by US President Donald Trump, fearing that such a step would boost Beijing's clout and water down what was meant to be the "gold standard" for rules of trade.

Nor are government officials eager to begin two-way trade talks with Washington despite Mr Trump's stated preference for bilateral deals as part of his "America First" economic plans, although some said such negotiations could not be ruled out.