Opportunities for Asia-Pacific seen if US quits TPP

The United States' expected withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership may provide "great opportunities" for China to work out a wider trade agreement as a better alternative, experts said on Tuesday.

US president-elect Donald Trump released a video message on social media on Monday giving his plans for the first 100 days of his presidency. These included withdrawing from the trade deal on his first day in office as one of six immediate steps aimed at "putting America first".

China should seize this opportunity to start the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific to include countries and regions that have joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, said Wang Huiyao, director of the Center for China and Globalization. The Beijing center is an independent, non-profit think tank that conducts research on world affairs, economic issues and globalization.