Trade officials seek to forge ahead with TPP even as Canada wavers

An expectation that the Canadians will return? Why? Canada's economy is fine it's growing at a rate above many of the other participants. It's consistently in the top ten for life style, education and happiness. Why tie themselves into any contract that threatens their happy life. I know it's a broad statement but all in all Canada seems to be a comefortable place to live.

Good work Canada! Don’t give in!

"Canada has taken a step back to say they cannot sign TPP 11 right away, but there are expectations that if the remaining 10 countries move ahead Canada will eventually come back," said Junichi Sugawara, senior research officer at Mizuho Research Institute.

Nah.. more likely the TPP will just fall apart. PM Trudeau, good work so far!

I know it's a broad statement but all in all Canada seems to be a comfortable place to live. in summer probably, winter now thats an entirely different matter

Hey, don't forget Britain too signaled an interest post Brexit!

Countries have seasons, I hate summer in Japan but love winter so ok my biased opinion. But the fact remains that Canada is a progressive country not desperate to lock itself into a TTP if the benifits are dubious to its own people. Kinda like Japan protecting its farming policies. JA prolongated the original deal for so long it was made redundant . And the secrecy involved in these deals should be a worry to anyone. Why can I not be informed of the legal reduction of my rights? Go Canada

"But Canada is holding out to secure protection of its cultural industries, like movies, TV, and music, and has said it will not be rushed into signing a deal that other members hope to conclude by March."

My question here is What Movies, TV and Music? Did not know they had any worth being worried about.

My response to this before was all gray with unreadable characters, so trying again. Must be a glitch in the Mac. Will keep a watch to see if I need to reboot.

NWO agents falling apart I hope

@Cricky, you're absolutely right. Canada is indeed a comfortable place to live.

@wtfjapan, you obviously don't know much about Canada - it's comfortable, even in winter, because we're used to it. When I read about life shutting down in Tokyo because of a little snow, I gag.

@Tom, Canada is the source of a lot of quality art. I won't go into a huge list of names, and if I was as culturally unknowing as you, I could say the same thing about Japan. But I won't go there, either.

Canada's position on this new/old trade agreement is to take it a step at a time to ensure its a level playing field for all involved, and not slanted to any one country's protectionist attitude about various sections of the agreement. And we're even guilty (at least our negotiators are) of trying to protect a homegrown supply chain or two, something I disagree with, but understand.

@Trevor Peace thank you for a good post, yes Canada gets cold but the houses are built for that. Japan is trying to protect industry's that are economically failures but as most other countries who are talking have economies that are growing and benefiting its population, it's not going to end well (as before) Japan is stuck in an age that requires government supplements rather than a competitive business model. Making smaller versions of other countries products just does not fly as everyone now wants the biggest products, unfortunately for Japan there is no space in the domestic households limiting the market. Food forget it, any competion on a level playing field would destroy a fragile, aging and unproductive industry that maintains a voter disparaty that cancels out the majority of people

Canada has a typical Liberal government, they sacrifice the interests of the western part of the country which relies heavily on agricultural exports for union votes in an noncompetitive part of the country.

Australia has the record for the longest run of uninterrupted growth in the developed world.....26 years and counting. Even the financial crisis in 2008 didn't result in negative territory. NZ's economy is rocking too. Others thinking about joining this TPP will benefit if Australia and NZ are involved.

Don't give in, Canada! There's a reason this deal was scuttled by Japan before, and now they want the same protections for their industries while demanding others give up theirs.

What smith said!

Apparently its being signed in March in Chile Japan has confirmed according to Australian media today. They must be confident.