While several Trans-Pacific Partnership countries have taken a cautious approach ahead of Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, which could alter the fate of the free trade pact, Japan has instead been stepping up its efforts toward ratifying the deal.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in a hurry to ratify the TPP as he is eager to take the lead in setting free trade rules in the Asia-Pacific region, with an eye on China's rising assertiveness, political experts say. Beijing is not part of the TPP.
Economists also say Abe, who has been promoting free trade as the key to growth under his sputtering Abenomics policy mix, wants to conclude the TPP as soon as possible to start free trade talks with other countries in Asia and further afield.