U.S. President Barack Obama is pledging to complete a new Trans-Pacific trade agreement this year, even as roadblocks remain in forging a 12-nation pact.

Earlier September, trade delegates met in San Francisco to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement's e-commerce chapter. It's likely that this secret chapter carries provisions that whittle away at user data protetions. But we weren't able to say so at this meeting.

Initiated in 2003, The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations currently encompass 12 Asia-Pacific countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the U.S., and Vietnam.

Recently, controversy has erupted over the treatment of tobacco in the Trans Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. Writing in the New York Times, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg accuses the Obama administration of "caving" on tobacco.

There are high hurdles that must be cleared for the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to end within the year, as sought by the United States.

TOKYO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan hosted Thursday a working group meeting of the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks, marking the first one that was held in the latest TPP member. The meeting that will end Monday mainly focused on one of the most difficult negotiations covering intellectual property, including patent terms for new drugs, as the 12 involving countries planned to conclude an overall TPP deal by the end of this year.

One of the very first acts of the very first Congress of the United States was to impose tariffs on imported gloves, hats, and clothing.

With economic integration being at the forefront, Asean – as it focuses on becoming a much stronger unit – has found itself in the midst of a much hyped about financial discussion that has started gaining momentum.

Japan has decided to retain the tariffs it levies on imported beans in the ongoing negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

Japan and the United States will hold their third round of bilateral trade negotiations next week in Washington on auto trade-related issues and nontariff measures, the government said Friday.