NZ, Japan kickstart TPP talks

New Zealand and Japan have recommitted to pushing for an early implementation of the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) that if successful would see the 11-nation trade pact – minus the United States – come into force next year.

Speaking after meeting his counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Prime Minister Bill English said he was pleased with the outcome of the talks.

‘‘I think we got better than I’d expected. Prime Minister Abe is committed to implementing TPP on the timetable it’s on; they call it early implementation.

‘‘He’s keen to see, as we are, the next officials discussion next week to work on a plan for implementation.’’

Ministers from the so-called TPP-11 countries will meet in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sunday on the margins of the APEC ministerial meeting, amid expectations they will commit to examining how to implement the deal. That could see more progress when Apec leaders gather in Vietnam in November.

English said Abe clearly saw Japan playing a leadership role and it was standing together with New Zealand in trying to generate ‘‘momentum’’ and have others back implementation.

Only Japan and New Zealand have so far ratified the TPP, but others such as Singapore and Brunei are seen as keen to see the TPP go ahead soon. However others, including Vietnam, have reservations and some want a significant renegotiation of the text now the US had quit.

English said on the timetable built into the TPP it was supposed to come into action in the first half of next year.

Abe had made it clear that on a reasonable timetable ‘‘you have to retain the current text’’.

‘‘But allowing there are nine other countries ... they may have views about that that need to be tested.’’

That would be part of the role New Zealand, represented by Trade Minister Todd Mcclay, will be playing.

‘‘For those who want to see it early – as I put to him – there can’t be any more changes’’ other than some technical changes to allow implementation without the US, English said.

Australia has reportedly suggested the patent period on biological pharmaceuticals – a key factor for the US – be cut from eight to five years. English said he and Abe had not discussed that.

Speaking at a joint presentation to media with English, Abe said that ‘‘as the flag bearers of free trade we shall maintain close coordination and co-operation and we will aim at early realisation of TPP and early conclusion of a high-quality RCEP.’’ RCEP is a parallel free trade agreement led by China.

Abe said he welcomed ‘‘from the bottom of my heart’’ that New Zealand had ratified the TPP.

Meanwhile, the two prime ministers said they also discussed North Korea and Japan’s concerns about its recent test-firing of missiles. English said with North Korea so close, and with clear indications it was making technical progress, it represented ‘‘quite immediate tensions’’ for Japan.

Like Japan, New Zealand wanted the United Nations to tighten up on its sanctions against North Korea – an issue discussed at an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday but which so far had not been resolved.

English is flying to Hong Kong for a round of meetings today and tomorrow. He returns to New Zealand on Sunday.