Australia seeks Japan alliance on trade

According to The Australian Financial Review, optimism is growing a hesitant Canada will soon sign up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership ahead of Malcolm Turnbull and Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe renewing their determination to push the free trade pact during the Prime Minister's trip to Tokyo on Thursday.
The struggle to get the 11-country free trade agreement over the line to combat rising US protectionism will be one of the key theme's of Mr Turnbull's one-day visit, along with the threat to regional security posed by a nuclear-armed North Korea.
Australia and Japan will also discuss closer co-operation in the Pacific Islands, in response to China's use of aid money to seek greater influence in the region.
Ahead of his departure, Mr Turnbull said Australia's strategic partnership was more important than ever. He pointed to the growth in two-way investment being reaped from the Australia-Japan FTA since it came into force three years ago as proof of how exports drove job creation.
"We are committed to opening up more opportunities for Australian exporters to get into more markets and Shinzo Abe and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the big free trade agreement that regrettably the US pulled out of after the change of administration, we are committed to that continuing," Mr Turnbull said.

Ref:http://www.afr.com/news/world/asia/malcolm-turnbull-and-shinzo-abe-to-discuss-useless-chinese-aid-in-the-pacific-20180116-h0jgcb
 
If you want to read this article in Japanese, please see the following link:
https://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/2413112 
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