[CTC] Business groups back push for fast-track legislation by June

[Arthur Stamoulis]

TPP negotiators still planning to conclude this year...

http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2013/april/joint-statement-tpp-ministers

Joint Statement of TPP Ministers
04/20/2013

Trans-Pacific Partnership Ministers Chart Path Forward on Key Issues and
Confirm Next Steps on Japan’s Entry

Surabaya, Indonesia - The trade ministers of the 11 Trans-Pacific  
Partnership (TPP) countries -- which include Australia, Brunei  
Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,  
Singapore, United States, and Vietnam -- met on the margins of the  
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting of Ministers  
Responsible for Trade to chart a path forward on the remaining issues  
that will enable them to conclude the negotiations on a 2013 timeframe  
as instructed by TPP Leaders. They also discussed the status of their  
discussions with Japan on its interest in joining the TPP.

As the negotiating teams prepare for the next round in Lima, Peru, set  
for May 15-24, ministers agreed on next steps to advance the TPP talks  
in a range of areas. They directed negotiators to complete their work  
on some chapters and to accelerate progress on more challenging issues  
that remain including intellectual property, competition/State-owned  
enterprises, and environment, as well as on the market access packages  
for goods, services/investment, and government procurement. Ministers  
committed to intensifying their own engagement over the coming months  
to work out solutions to outstanding sensitive issues and to achieve  
the TPP Leaders’ objective of a high-quality, ambitious, and  
comprehensive agreement this year.

Ministers also confirmed that each TPP member has concluded bilateral  
consultations with Japan regarding Japan’s interest in joining the  
TPP. Today, Ministers agreed by consensus to finalize with Japan the  
process for entry in a manner that allows the negotiations to continue  
expeditiously toward conclusion – as was done with other members that  
joined the negotiations in progress. Japan can then join the TPP  
negotiations upon completion of current members’ respective domestic  
processes.

With Japan’s entry, TPP countries would account for nearly 40 percent  
of global GDP and about one-third of all world trade. TPP Ministers  
noted that Japan’s participation in the negotiation will underscore  
the economic significance of TPP and its promise as a pathway toward a  
Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.
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