Pacific trade pact cleared for launch!

Canada's Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne (C) and Australia's Trade Minister Steven Ciobo (L) chat as Mexico's Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo get together before signing the Pacific trade pact in Santiago.

• Australia becomes the sixth nation to formally ratify the deal.

A landmark 11-country deal that will slash tariffs across much of the Asia-Pacific will come into force at the end of December, New Zealand said on Wednesday.

The deal moved forward after Australia become the sixth nation to formally ratify the deal, alongside Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore.

"This triggers the 60-day countdown to entry into force of the Agreement and the first round of tariff cuts," said New Zealand Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker. His country is responsible for official tasks such as receiving and circulating notifications made by members of the pact.The original 12-member deal was thrown into limbo early last year when US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement to prioritise protecting US jobs.

The remaining nations, led by Japan, finalised a revised trade pact in January, called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The deal will reduce tariffs in economies that together amount to more than 13 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) - a total of $10 trillion. With the United States, it would have represented 40 per cent. - Reuters