TPP designed to extend to government procurement and China

US President Barack Obama stated that the free-trade agreement, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), was intended to be an agreement that extended to government procurement and was not designed to exclude China.

The TPP, being negotiated with nine APEC members including Australia, is said to cover areas such as government procurement, intellectual property, as well as tariffs.

"If China says 'we want to consult with you about being part of that as well', we welcome that," Obama said.

"It will require China to rethink some of its approaches to trade, just as every other country that's been involved in the consultations for the TPP have had to think through what kinds of adjustments are we willing to make," he said.

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