TPP trade deal may be alive despite US pullout

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, thought dead after the United States pulled out, may yet have new life following meetings in Toronto that ended Wednesday.

Negotiators and representatives from the remaining 11 countries gathered for closed talks that gave new hope the deal could go ahead minus the U.S.

“It’s certainly a positive development for TPP to potentially move ahead without the U.S.,” Greg Kanargelidis told the Financial Post newspaper. Kanargelidis is the leader of the international trade group at the Toronto law firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. “I know Japan is anxious to have this agreement in place. It makes sense that Canada would be an active participant.”

But despite the fact Canada hosted the meetings, there is substantial opposition to the deal here.

The talks between Canada and 10 Pacific Rim countries – the “TPP 11” as they are being called – took place at an undisclosed location, leading critics to term the sessions “secret,” Huffington Post Canada reported.

“The TPP is an unfair and undemocratic deal that was negotiated behind closed doors without any meaningful public participation,” David Christopher, communications manager at the activist OpenMedia organization, told the Post in a statement.

“Such a flawed and unpopular deal cannot be the basis for Canada’s future trade relationships. Instead of holding secret talks to resurrect the TPP behind closed doors, the government needs to go back to the drawing board and ensure any future trade deal is shaped by citizens every step of the way.”

American President Donald Trump canceled U.S. participation in the TPP and his “America first” policy has led him to take a hard look at any free trade pacts, including the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama was in favor of the TPP but Trump’s move has shredded years of negotiations and new terms must now be agreed to if the deal is to proceed.

The two days of talks are expected to produce recommendations to resurrect the deal and those recommendations are scheduled to be presented at the Asian trade ministers’ meeting in Vietnam later this month, the Canada’s Business News Network reported.