Ministers Agree to Maintain Momentum in TPP Talks

Nusa Dua, Indonesia, Oct. 6 (Jiji Press)--Ministers from the 12 nations participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks confirmed their intentions Sunday to maintain the momentum toward concluding the negotiations by the end of this year. On the final day of the ministerial session in Bali, the participants compiled a report on progress achieved so far in the countries' discussions, which will be submitted to a TPP summit scheduled for Tuesday on the same Indonesian island. The ministers agreed on the need to continue the U.S.-led TPP negotiations vigorously although U.S. President Barack Obama will be absent from the TPP summit due to the ongoing government shutdown reflecting the political standoff over the U.S. federal budget and debt ceiling issues. At the coming meeting, leaders from the 12 nations are expected to reaffirm their determination to conclude the free trade negotiations by year-end, based on the report from the ministers. The leaders are seen issuing instructions to prompt agreements on difficult sectors including market access focusing on tariff reductions and eliminations, and the protection of intellectual property rights such as patents. Akira Amari, Japan's minister for TPP issues, told reporters after the ministerial discussions that participants were able to recognize sensitive areas for each of the members. Leaders of the participating nations will likely share the goal of concluding the TPP negotiations within this year, he said, underscoring his confidence that a broad agreement will be reached at the TPP summit. He added another round of ministerial talks is expected to be held at some point in the final stage of the TPP talks in order to make sure the conclusion of the negotiations by year-end. At the latest ministerial discussions, participants had plenary and bilateral meetings in a effort to find common ground in sensitive sectors such as market access, intellectual properties, cuts in preferential treatments for state-run firms and the environment. Their report to the leaders included clues on how to resolve sticking points in the sensitive areas and how to proceed with negotiations. The ministerial talks were held on Thursday, Friday and Sunday on the margins of a two-day ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum that ended here on Saturday. END