Officials from 12 Pacific Rim countries on Monday wrapped up four days of talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, setting the stage for what many hope will be the final round of negotiations on the most ambitious trade deal in decades.

Akira Amari, Japan's minister in charge of TPP negotiations, said significant progress was made as a result of "tough" bargaining between chief negotiators in the run-up to a crucial four-day ministerial session starting Tuesday on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

"I have an impression that there has been substantial progress," Amari told reporters after arriving in Hawaii.