In a veiled counter to US President-elect Donald Trump over his protectionist stance, leaders of 12-member states of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have agreed to step up efforts to implement the free trade agreement. At a meeting in Lima, the leaders affirmed their intention to advance domestic procedures such as ratification by parliaments of member states so that the US-led TPP can enter into force, it is understood.
Although it is unclear whether the free trade pact will come into force with the new Trump administration, the leaders did not discuss the possibility of implementing the TPP without the US participation. President Barack Obama has been quoted as saying that his administration will continue efforts to win domestic support for the pact.
Interestingly, Trump has vowed to scrap the TPP once he assumes office in January. It is not immediately known whether the leaders’ call for implementing the TPP would prompt Trump to reverse the harsh anti-globalism rhetoric he advocated during his presidential campaign.
