The Philippines host this year's APEC. Since Thursday, the APEC summit has been underway in Manila, bringing together 21 Pacific Rim member economies. A number of bilateral meetings has also been planned, culminating with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on November 18-19.
"The discussion mainly evolves only around APEC agenda. There are no discussions of the TPP taking place," the source said.
The APEC forum includes Russia, the United States, China, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Peru, chili, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Brunei.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal was recently agreed between the United States and representatives of Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Rim nations.
After the US-backed TPP was concluded in early October, the APEC summit was expected to become the venue for a closer review of its benefits, and even for the accession of new members, such as Indonesia.
