Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would continue pushing for a trans-Pacific trade deal, but he hoped the U. S. would rejoin the pact.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that his country would continue pushing for a trans-Pacific trade deal, but he hoped the U. S. would rejoin the pact.
Following Washington’s exit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 11 remaining members have kick-started discussions on how to proceed without the U. S. and recently wrapped up talks in Toronto. In an exclusive joint interview with CNBC and Broadcast Satellite Japan, Abe said Japan would like to exercise leadership in promoting the TPP among member countries.
“We have finally come to an agreement on the rules of free and fair trade. We hope to utilize that agreed framework. Unfortunately, the U. S. has declared withdrawal from the TPP. Since we have come thus far, Japan must now take on a leadership role and bring the talks forward, ” Abe said in Japanese. “We would like to capitalize upon the result of our long years of efforts.”
The prime minister added that “momentum” should not be lost, but he left the door open for a U.
