AlHijjah 18, 1432, Nov 14, 2011, SPA - Canada and Mexico have expressed interest in joining talks on a planned Asia-Pacific free-trade agreement, US officials said on Sunday. President Barack Obama welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's "expression of Canada's interest" in joining nine-nation talks over a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for free trade, the White House said following talks between Obama and Harper on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit. The statement said Harper and Obama had discussed the "importance of meeting the TPP's high standard for trade liberalization and addressing outstanding trade and investment issues in that process." "Together with Japan's and Mexico's similar announcements, Canada's desire to consult with TPP partners demonstrates the broadening momentum and dynamism of this ambitious effort toward economic integration across the Pacific," it was quoted as saying by DPA.
