Singapore - We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation for Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam have just completed a two-day ministerial meeting during which we reviewed recent bilateral engagements, including the U.S.-Japan negotiations last month, as well as the results of the Chief Negotiators meeting last week in Ho Chi Minh City.
In a series of positive meetings we cemented our shared views on what is needed to bring negotiations to a close. We focused in particular on making meaningful progress on market access and also advanced outstanding rules issues in an effort to narrow our remaining differences.
In order to further build on the momentum of negotiations, we have decided on a pathway of intensified engagement over the coming weeks on market access and rules. As part of that effort, which will take place bilaterally and in other configurations, we have instructed our Chief Negotiators to meet in July. At the same time, Ministers will continue to engage bilaterally to direct negotiations, coordinate, and tackle the most challenging outstanding issues. We will also continue our respective processes of domestic consultations.
Our negotiations during this important period will continue to reflect our long-standing commitment to deliver an ambitious, comprehensive and high-standard agreement consistent with the instructions of our leaders. We will also continue to be guided first and foremost by our shared desire to create jobs, economic growth and opportunity for the people of our countries.
