May 13, 2017 4:00pm by David Farrar

Maybe TPP isn’t dead

The Government has formally ratified the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade just days before Prime Minister Bill English heads to Japan for trade and business talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan is seen as key to a pared-down TPP being agreed, now that the United States has pulled out, with suggestions of either a TPP 11 or a TPP 5 – including New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Trade Minister Todd McClay said the Cabinet decision to ratify the TPP showed leadership with Japan, which has also ratified the agreement.

If TPP leads to an FTA with Japan, that will not be a bad outcome.