WELLINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will be sounding out fellow leaders on the future of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal at the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Peru.
Key said on Friday that he would meet bilaterally with other leaders and attend both the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Leaders' meeting and the TPP Leaders Meeting in Lima on Nov. 19-20.
"This year's APEC is focused on improving growth and living standards through initiatives such as more effective trade in services and trade liberalization," Key said.
"The Asia-Pacific region accounts for almost three-quarters of our total trade and is home to some of our most important international partners," he said.
"APEC provides a valuable opportunity to promote New Zealand as a good place to do business and invest in, and I look forward to my discussions there."
Last week Key conceded the TPP was dead "in the short term" with the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president.
Trump has pledged to scrap some multinational trade deals, and branded the TPP, which was signed in New Zealand this year, as a "rape" to the United States.
Trade Minister Todd McClay said on Wednesday that New Zealand would continue "to show leadership in defense of open markets and free trade access" at the APEC talks.
McClay is attending the annual APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, where he expected to hold talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and APEC's proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and the TPP.
APEC brings together all the major economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
The New Zealand government passed a bill on Tuesday to align the country's laws with the TPP.
Trade Minister McClay said the passage of the TPP Agreement Amendment Bill was signal of New Zealand's commitment to continued trade liberalization.
