Ministers from the 12 countries trying to hammer out the Trans-Pacific Partnership fell short of setting a clear timeline for ending the negotiations as they wrapped up a two-day meeting Tuesday in Singapore, although they stressed that progress was made on tariff issues.

"We cemented our shared views on what is needed to bring negotiations to a close," the ministers said in a joint statement following the meeting.

They decided that the chief negotiators from the member countries will meet in July to further accelerate talks.