U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has concluded a first full day of Minister-level meetings regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. In addition to an opening plenary with TPP Ministers who have arrived in Bali for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum meetings, Ambassador Froman met bilaterally today with officials from seven of the United States' 11 TPP partners - including Australia (Minister Andrew Robb), Chile (Vice-Minister Alvaro Jana) Japan (Minister Akira Amari), Malaysia (Minister Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed), New Zealand (Minister Tim Groser), Peru (Minister Blanca Magali Silva), and Singapore (Minister Lim Hng Kiang).
The Leaders of the TPP countries have called on negotiators and ministers to conclude a high-standard, ambitious, 21st-century trade agreement this year. The ministers of the twelve TPP countries are expected to report to TPP Leaders gathered in Indonesia next week on the status of the talks, and to receive further guidance on next steps in the negotiation. As such, ministers are meeting intensively this week, as are chief negotiators and a number of other negotiators, to make additional progress. Areas of particular focus include environment, intellectual property, and state-owned enterprises.
TPP minister-level and other meetings in plenary and bilateral configurations will continue tomorrow.
