(VOVworld) - Trade and economic ministers of the 12 member countries of the freshly-sealed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement have affirmed that the signing of the deal signals an important milestone and the beginning of the next phase for TPP.
 

Trade and economic ministers of TPP member countries (Source: cbc.ca)

In a joint statement issued on February 4 following the signing of the agreement in Auckland, New Zealand, the ministers called the TPP a historic achievement for the Asia-Pacific region.
The countries should now focus on completing their domestic legal procedures. In the statement, the ministers affirmed that the deal’s objective is to enhance shared prosperity, create jobs and promote the sustainable economic development of all member nations.