Trans-pacific Partnership

US begins Asia-Pacific economic summit to counter China

Two-day event in Los Angeles is the first face-to-face meeting between members of the new Indo-Pacific Economic Prosperity Framework, an initiative launched in May by Washington to contain Beijing's influence in the region.

Vietnam signs free trade deal with EU

Vietnam and the European Union signed a free trade deal reducing tariffs on goods of 99 percent traded between the southeastern state and the Union. The deal will boost Vietnams economy by around 5 percent until 2024-2028.

China-backed trade deal pushed back to 2019

The world's largest trade deal, also called RCEP, is pushed back to next year as trade ministers of Asia-Pacific countries fail to agree key terms at a summit, ahead of ASEAN meeting, in Singapore.

Asian countries denounce 'real threat' of global trade war

Diplomats in ASEAN summit express concern over the impact of US-China trade war as calls grow for accelerating talks for a Beijing-backed free-trade deal that excludes the US.

US VP Pence to meet four leaders one-on-one during Americas summit

Donald Trump's absence marks the first time a US president has not attended the key regional summit. His VP is expected to push leaders for a stronger response to what the Trump administration is calling the rise of dictatorship in Venezuela.

Trump says US could re-join Pacific trade pact if terms are improved

US President Donald Trump's apparent about-face over the TPP came late on Thursday, on Twitter. Trump pulled the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017, claiming it was unfair. Now he's having second thoughts.

Eleven nations sign Pacific trade pact as Trump plans US tariffs

Trump pulled the US from the pact but the remaining 11 members pressed ahead, saying they were showing resolve against protectionism through global trade.

EU and Japan conclude 'gigantic' free trade agreement

The trade deal, which the European Union called its biggest ever, must still be signed and ratified by both sides who first agreed to its broad outlines in July.

Duterte lashes out at Trudeau and West for questioning his war on drugs

Keeping with ASEAN's principle of non-interference in each others' internal affairs, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar appeared to have been put aside at the summit.

TPP countries agree to keep trade deal alive sans US

Trade ministers of 11 Pacific Rim countries say they agreed on the core elements of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership that the US abandoned in January under Trump.

Disagreement over Trans-Pacific pact as APEC Summit begins in Vietnam

The pact was thrown into disarray when US President Trump abruptly pulled out of the deal earlier this year, dismaying allies including Japan, Australia, Canada and Vietnam.

US and China to set out competing trade visions at APEC summit

President Donald Trump is likely to push for his "America First" doctrine while his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping is expected to send positive signals supporting free trade during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Vietnam.