WASHINGTON – The top U.S. trade official said Thursday the goal of concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement by the end of this year is difficult but “doable.” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman acknowledged at a House of Representatives hearing that numerous obstacles remain, however, including ensuring that Japan lives up to its commitments to open its markets to American products.

Jul. 19 – Malaysia, currently hosting the on-going negotiations concerning the much-lauded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, is facing internal difficulties as some of its largest businesses resist membership to the TPP.

NEW DELHI: Unfazed by hiccups in concluding the long-pending free trade agreement with European Union, Prime Minister Manmohan Singhtoday expressed the hope that the pact would be sealed soon.'We have entered into Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the ASEAN countries as well as the Republic of Korea. We are hoping to conclude a similar agreement with the European Union soon,' he said.

After the first round of talks in Seoul in March this year on a possible tripartite free trade agreement (FTA) were said to have made progress, China, Japan and South Korea have now agreed to hold a second round in Shanghai at the end of July.

(Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry issued preliminary anti-dumping duties on imports of U.S. and South Korean solar-grade polysilicon on Thursday, but made no decision on tariffs on European Union exports of the raw material used to make solar panels. Beijing's move, a widely expected hit on U.S. and South Korean producers, coincides with difficult talks between the EU and China to defuse a conflict over alleged dumping of Chinese solar panels in Europe.

Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations remain stalled over five topics including the key issue of market access or tariff elimination, negotiation sources said Tuesday. One market access proposal under discussion calls for all parties to agree on the removal of tariffs on all products before moratoriums are set up on the removal of tariffs for certain products of special concern to TPP participants, they said. One of the sources said it was likely that some of the decisions would be subjected to political decisions in the final phase.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)promotes a secure and mutually beneficial trade environment, bringing greater opportunities for participating countries. 

The U.S. plans to join a World Trade Organization case against Russia over laws Americans and Europeans say discriminate against global companies and violate trade rules. The complaint was filed this month by the European Union and targets a Russian law imposing a recycling fee on imports from foreign auto makers.

Whether Japan should join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade scheme is one of the main issues in the coming Upper House election. If Japan becomes a member of the TPP, it will greatly impact agriculture and other industries, and people’s lives. Deplorably, political parties are talking about the TPP only in the general terms of whether they support or oppose it. They should present the TPP’s merits and demerits in a clear-cut and detailed manner so that voters can be fully informed before passing judgment on it.

WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday he aims for completion of a huge trans-Pacific trade deal in 2013, as he outlined efforts to embrace Asia and broaden global prosperity. Biden, who embarks early next week on an official visit to India and Singapore, said the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that would encompass 40 percent of the world's economy will be the perfect vehicle for updating global trade standards.