Asia-Pacific nations sign sweeping trade deal

Published on 9 Mar 2018 11:34:56 AM

Eleven countries signed a landmark Asia-Pacific trade agreement without the United States in Santiago on Thursday with one minister calling it a powerful signal against protectionism and trade wars. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will reduce tariffs in countries that together amount to more than 13 percent of the global economy - a total of US$10 trillion in gross domestic product.