A blockbuster Pacific trade pact thrown into doubt by Donald Trump could be salvaged by suspending parts of the deal in order to get the 11 remaining nations to sign on, according to Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed.
Speaking in Vietnam ahead of a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, set to include the U.S. president, Mustapa said there was fresh momentum to save the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a deal that would have spanned 40 percent of the global economy. He indicated Malaysia had shifted from its prior stance that Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. meant the pact needed to be renegotiated.
Trade ministers are due to present their plan for the future of the TPP without the U.S. to leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Mustapa said talks were still going on — some leaders are arriving Thursday — but added that there might be a way forward.