By William Mauldin
The Obama administration will host a high-level trade meeting in
late July in an effort to conclude a sweeping Pacific trade pact,
after winning key legislation in Congress last month to expedite
U.S. approval.
U.S. Trade Representative Mike Froman will join trade ministers
from Japan, Vietnam and nine other countries around the Pacific on
Hawaii's island of Maui from July 28-31, Mr. Froman's office said
in a statement Tuesday. Other officials will gather earlier for
lower-level talks on the trade agreement, known as the
Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP.
After passing so-called fast-track legislation through Congress
and signing it into law, President Barack Obama and top U.S.
officials have renewed efforts to work with other countries in the
proposed bloc on coming to an agreement on the politically
sensitive issues that remain.
Officials from the U.S. and Japan are set to meet Thursday to
close gaps on auto and agriculture trade. An understanding between
the two biggest economies in the group would help pave the way for
a 12-nation agreement on issues ranging from intellectual-property
protection to environmental and labor standards.
The Pacific deal has faced setbacks and delays many times, and
there is no guarantee that the countries will be able come to an
agreement in Hawaii or this summer.
Write to William Mauldin at william.mauldin@wsj.com