Barack Obama is continuing to push for the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the U.S. Congress before his departure, although it suffered an unexpected setback in Vietnam. The 12 countries participating in the TPP have signed the agreement in February but it has yet to come into force and both candidates to the U.S. election have stated their opposition to Obama's signature trade agreement. He has thus enlisted bi-partisan backing for the TPP, gaining support from key Republicans in the U.S. congress, such as John Kasich, the Ohio governor and former presidential hopeful. The deal is meant to lead to the elimination of duties on products made and traded between the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Japan – but not China or Indonesia. The TPP's prospects didn't improve in recent days, as Vietnam decided not to include the ratification of the agreement in its agenda for the next parliamentary session, according to a Reuters report. Vietnam stands to benefit significantly and was thus expected to ratify swiftly. Some comments have speculated that, given the uncertainty around the TPP in the U.S., Vietnam may be wary of alienating China and taking an option on a regional trade deal including China instead.

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