Pacific free-trade talks unlikely to go anywhere until after US midterm polls

Negotiators of a Pacific Rim free-trade initiative still see no clear path to signing an agreement, six months after missing their primary deadline at the end of last year.

Chief negotiators of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) from Japan, the United States and 10 other countries wrapped up their meeting on Saturday in Ottawa without agreement, even on a date for the next meeting, due to major differences over contentious issues such as intellectual property.

Observers say some negotiators may start questioning whether the TPP talks can maintain momentum as the United States, the leader of the process, is unable to make any game-changing decisions in the coming months due to midterm elections in November.

The TPP negotiations also include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

A senior lawmaker of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party regards the US elections as "one of the most important factors" in determining whether the 12 countries can strike a TPP deal.

"The negotiations could run out of steam and get bogged down if there is a pause after the US elections," said Koya Nishikawa after the chief negotiators wrapped up their meeting without major progress.