Chief negotiators from the 11 signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership gathered Wednesday in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, to check on their progress with domestic procedures to ratify the pact, amid fears of a trade war.
During talks through Thursday, negotiators will also discuss how to welcome other countries seeking to join the free trade pact — from which the United States has withdrawn under President Donald Trump.
"We can expect the pact to take effect early next year," said Japan's chief negotiator Kazuyoshi Umemoto at the outset of the gathering.