WASHINGTON – The Obama administration said it won't sacrifice the quality of a proposed trans-Pacific trade pact in the drive to complete negotiations by year's end. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the key plank of a US effort to boost exports to the fast-growing economies of the Asia-Pacific. US Trade Representative Mike Froman spoke to reporters by phone after TPP trade ministers met in Brunei for the 19th round of negotiations. Froman said the aim remains to complete negotiations by the end of 2013. But he added: "We are not rushing into an agreement to meet any particular deadline." The negotiations have been under way for more than 2 1/2 years and are said to be in their final stages. — AP
