A deal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) can be struck by the end of 2015, says Australia's Trade Minister, Andrew Robb.

Robb will lead a business delegation to Canada and the United States over the coming week as talks continue on the TPP, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported.

The TPP involves 12 countries, namely, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam.

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott will discuss the TPP with President Barack Obama during his first official visit to Washington DC next week.

Robb said Australia's work in securing bilateral free trade deals with Japan and Korea had provided a "pathway" to securing the TPP.

"I think we can get the TPP next year," he told AAP today.

"It's a very complicated thing and I think we have probably negotiated 80%.

"The last 20% is largely market access and we've said all along, unless there is a decent market access result, we are not interested," he added.

June 5, 2014

Source: Bernama

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