Australia in US talks to speed up TPP agreement

MELBOURNE: The push for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) will get a shot in the arm when Australia's Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb discusses the TPP with the US Trade Representative, Mike Froman, during his ministerial visit to the United States tomorrow.

"Australia is committed to concluding an ambitious, commercially meaningful TPP, including high quality market access outcomes," Robb said in a statement.

He is expected to discuss with Froman how to move the TPP towards a successful conclusion.

The TPP is being negotiated between 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Malaysia, which together accounted for almost 40 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product.

"It will provide an important new platform for market access opportunities and economic integration in our fast growing region," he said.

Robb will take part in the Global Services Summit in Washington where he would present Australia's perspective on the importance of the services trade to Australia, and on the progress being made in the TPP and Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) negotiations.

"Australia remains committed to working constructively on strong outcomes on market access, as well as, new trade rules to address behind the border barriers to trade in services," Robb added.

Source: Bernama