Enrique Peña Nieto: TPP trade talks “en route”

Ministers from Trans-Pacific Partnership ( TPP ) countries met in the resort of Danang in Vietnam on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) summit to discuss how to proceed with the deal after the United States withdrew.

The TPP, without the United States, is being restructured into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership .

Talks among ministers from the 11 member countries on reviving their trade deal were “ very productive ” but more discussion is needed, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Thursday.

“It was a very productive meeting, but we are still discussing,” the minister told reporters. “Everybody wants to have a result.”

While Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto assures that the talks remain “ en route ” after noting that the ministers addressed their commitment and conviction to continue promoting free trade.

Ildefonso Guajardo assured that Mexico played a fundamental role in reaching some ministerial agreements, adding that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership “has four points to resolve” but “we are working to develop them simultaneously."

sg