TPP 'can go on without the US or consist of bilateral pacts': Abe rival

Tokyo

PARTNER countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement still have ways to move forward with the ambitious economic cooperation scheme, even if president-elect Donald Trump's opposition to it rules out US participation for now, a senior Japanese politician said on Monday.

Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba said it may be possible for the nations in the 12-member TPP to modify the pact so that it can be implemented without the US; alternatively, they could achieve their joint objectives through a network of bilateral agreements, he said.