Negotiators got 98 per cent of the way towards a
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal late Friday night, but were unable to
bridge differences on cars, drugs and dairy markets.
Canada was one of the main stumbling blocks, despite
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s declarations that he wants a deal.
His negotiators would not concede to an auto-industry
deal struck between the United States and Japan. Mexico also would not agree
because that deal would increase competition for the U.S. market.
The United States would not budge on patent protection
for biological drugs; it’s the only one of the 12 nations that would not agree
to reduce it’s 12-year patent protection period. Australia has five and some
nations have none.
Canada and New Zealand remain at loggerheads over
access to the Canadian dairy market.
Canada offered some concessions – they’re not saying
what or how much – but New Zealand said they were totally inadequate.
The negotiators have not set a time or place for
negotiations to continue.
Japan said it believes political leaders may yet meet
again before they leave Hawaii and believes a deal is still possible.
