TPP Ministers Kick Off Meetings; Three Countries Send Lower-Level Officials

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei -- Trade ministers from all but three Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries on Aug. 22 kicked off two days of plurilateral and bilateral meetings here to assess the progress of the negotiations and provide political direction to negotiators as they seek to conclude a deal this year. The three countries without representation at the ministerial level are Australia, Chile and Peru. One potential option for a TPP deal at year end is to reach agreement on "core...