Trans-Pacific Partnership

The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Asia and the Pacific subcommittee on Wednesday lauded President Trump's burgeoning Indo-Pacific strategy, claiming countries in the region are “eager” to forge bilateral trade deals with the U.S.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Monday said the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific plans could overshadow the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which moved forward over the weekend without the U.S.

“I fear [the deal] will create an incentive for American manufacturers to move production to Mexico to access consumers in the Asia-Pacific, such as those in Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam.”

Malaysia and Vietnam had wanted to opt out of the original labor provisions, CBC News says, which was unacceptable to Canada.

Report: Country leaders are slated to officially approve the deal on Friday.

As President Trump continues his trip throughout Asia, Barbara Weisel, former U.S. chief negotiator of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, said she is encouraged by the itinerary – and expects the 11 remaining TPP countries will announce progress on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

A look at what's being said about TPP-11's prospects.

President Trump is set to meet with key trading partners in Asia without a coherent and effective strategy to achieve positive outcomes for the U.S., multiple sources and trade analysts have told Inside U.S. Trade -- adding that U.S. trade officials are not pushing China to make changes to its industrial policy in a bid to build a narrative that supports the case for tougher action in the future.

"Is it worthwhile spending hundreds of hours and efforts to try and reach a deal which may be politically spiky at home in our countries, and then finally it doesn't go through – and what was this for?"