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.US President Barack Obama has announced the broad outlines of a plan to create a trans-Pacific free trade zone at an annual regional summit in Hawaii.
"I'm confident we can get this done," Mr Obama said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) talks.
Nine Apec nations are involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but China has so far not expressed interest in joining the talks.
In all, 21 Apec countries account for about 44% of global trade. They also make up some 40% of the world's population....
The TPP currently includes Chile, New Zealand, Brunei and Singapore - all relatively small economies - with the US, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Peru negotiating to join. And Japan, the world's third largest economy, has now said it also wants to join the discussions.
BBC News - Obama outlines pan-Pacific trade plan at Apec summit