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Trans-Pacific Partnership delegates fail to reach final deal; pharmaceuticals

The contentious free trade deal, which US president Barack Obama has made a legacy issue as his eight year presidency draws to a close next year, is not dead, with ministers vowing to continue negotiations, but no new date has been set for all countries to meet again, with the timetable sensitive to being derailed by next year’s US presidential election.

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“In this last stage of negotiations, we are more confident than ever that TPP is within reach and will support jobs and economic growth”.

“After more than a week of productive meetings we’ve made significant progress and will continue on resolving a limited number of remaining issues, paving the way for the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations”, said Froman. Canada came under heavy pressure to open its highly protected market from countries including the U.S., Australia, and above all, New Zealand.

“We will not be pushed out of this agreement”, he said.

“The more free trade, the more trade around the world, certainly assists Australian farmers”. Trade ministers were keen to talk up the positives.

New Zealand’s veteran trade minister Tim Groser said the talks had “cleared the undergrowth away”.

Trade ministers from the 12 nations negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership at the Westin Resort in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, as they attend the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, July 30, 2015.

Several prickly issues were believed to have held up the talks this week on the island of Maui, prime among them differences over agricultural markets, auto trade and protection for drug makers.

“We consider that (TPP) is basically not a place to negotiate currencies, which have been fully dealt with the International Monetary Fund, G7 and G20”, Aso told a news conference after a cabinet meeting.

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The preachers also achieved success in lessening conflict on other delicate areas of the contract that include cerebral home, such as regulations for geographically fixed food meals companies, said Michael Froman, the You can introduce.S. trade company representative.

Pacific trade ministers wrapping up talks at Hawaii resort