TPP postpones talks on Thailand's entry amid political flux

Coronavirus causes four member nations to delay ratifying trade agreement

A durian shop at a wholesale market outside of Bangkok: The Thai government has shuffled its cabinet, and a key proponent of joining the pact resigned last month. © Reuters

KOSUKE TAKEUCHI, Nikkei staff writer

August 7, 2020 01:48 JST

TOKYO -- Members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Thursday postponed discussions over Thailand joining the trade bloc due to the shifting political situation in the Southeast Asian country.

Ministers from the 11-member TPP had planned to consider Thailand's entry as the group looks to expand. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's point man on the trade pact, expressed plans to support Thailand and Great Britain's entry in the trade pact.