Asian leaders report fitful progress on regional trade pact, as time presses
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Asian leaders say talks on a Pacific Rim trade pact are making progress, but the outlook for a deal this year remains uncertain.
Singapore's prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, told a conference in Tokyo on Thursday that the 12 nations involved in the negotiations need to reach an agreement on the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership before U.S. congressional elections in November.
He says that once those elections are past, U.S. attention will swing to the following presidential election.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After ministerial meetings in Singapore earlier this week, the 12 countries issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to step up efforts to bridge gaps over trade and other policies hindering progress toward a final agreement.
Japanese officials say they hope to hold further talks in July, though no timetable was set.