Hawaii hosts conference on TPP agreement

Although the talks are taking place behind closed doors, key issues are believed to be reducing trade barriers between TPP countries, intellectual property rights, patent provisions for medicines, labour rights, and protection of state-owned enterprises.

Despite outstanding issues, officials are confident that a final deal will emerge in the next few days. The US, a key party in the TPP, has expressed the Obama administration’s determination to close the TPP before the country focuses its attention on the presidential election in 2016. The talks are scheduled to end on July 31st.