Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is confident the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) can go through without the US, adding that all 11-member countries can conclude the trade pact in Vietnam.

“I’m confident and quite optimistic that we got a deal (done). The 11 remaining member countries, led by Japan, will try to come up with our version.

“There’s a lot of progress. Our ministers and officials have worked very hard, and we had a meeting which lasted till 3am today,” Najib said during a panel session at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) CEO Summit held in Danang, Vietnam today.

The TPPA meeting is scheduled to resume today.

“Of course, there are processes that need to be worked out, but at least we managed to salvage a free trade agreement that is vital for Apec’s future,” he said.

The TPPA talks were held n the sidelines of the ongoing Apec Economic Leaders’ Week since Nov 6.

Najib said he believed the TPPA was the best way to generate wealth and create a win-win position for everybody.

“The TPPA is supposed to be a significant building block towards the Asean Free Trade Area, in transforming the entire region into a free trade area,” he said.

- Bernama