Pacific Rim trade ministers have failed to clinch a deal to free up trade between a dozen nations after a dispute flared between Japan and North America over autos, New Zealand dug in over dairy trade and no agreement was reached on monopoly periods for next-generation drugs.
Trade ministers from the 12 nations negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would stretch from Japan to Chile and cover 40 per cent of the world economy, fell just short of a deal at talks on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
"We have made significant progress during the last week's meetings," US Trade Representative Michael Froman said. "We have advanced toward the conclusion."
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