TPP talks gaining momentum but no breakthrough yet on market access

Sydney

NEGOTIATIONS for an ambitious trade pact among Pacific countries made significant progress over the weekend but there is still a gap between Japan and the United States over market access and other hurdles, trade representatives said on Monday.

The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is central to President Barack Obama's policy of expanding the US presence in Asia and the president has expressed hopes of concluding a deal by the end of the year.