Malaysia reacts coolly to prospect of TPP trade pact minus US

MANILA (March 14): Efforts to salvage a blockbuster Pacific trade deal are struggling against waning enthusiasm from participants such as Malaysia, lowering expectations for a meeting of officials this week in Chile.

With President Donald Trump nixing the US’s involvement in the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, some countries are turning their focus to bilateral pacts, or to a separate Asian deal being championed by China. The rival 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is focused on expanding Southeast Asian trade ties and doesn’t include the US.

“The biggest attraction for us was America,” Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed said of the TPP in an interview last week in Manila. “We are open, but ‘minus one’ would be tough for us. That’s why RCEP is important to us.”

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