Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday noted that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement will be further enhanced if China joins. While Beijing has welcomed the new trade deal, authorities are reportedly reluctant to become part of it.

The economy of TPP members currently represents 40 percent of the world's total. Abe claims that the new free trade deal will help countries in the Asia-Pacific region further strengthen their economic ties and secure the rule of law if Beijing decides to become part of the partnership.

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There are currently 12 Asia-Pacific countries in the TPP, including Japan and the United States. Each country's membership must first be ratified by its lawmakers. Many members of the U.S. Congress have, however, voiced doubts on the viability of the TPP.

Both U.S. President Barack Obama and Japan's Shinzo Abe see the TPP trade partnership as victory for their administrations - politically and economically.

Abe and his political allies will face election next year and they are emphasizing that the trade deal will help Japanese citizens in all economic sectors - from consumers to giant conglomerates.

The multinational deal aims to remove economic barriers to trade among the Asia-Pacific members and formulate trade laws that will be adhered to by the various member countries.

Chinese government officials, who have noted that the TPP is one of the major free trade deals in the region, hope that it will help produce more economic growth and investments. Beijing, however, has plans to set up its own trade deal that will likely clash with TPP.

The TPP started in 1995 with four initial members namely, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand and Chile.

The TPP deal negotiations have been criticized for lacking transparency and detractors believe that it will only benefit large businesses.

Many members have already made trade concessions with one another. Japan for its part, has already agreed to open its food market to other countries by virtually removing the tariffs on certain goods. The United States has also agreed to buy more milk from New Zealand and Canada has lifted some of its dairy restrictions.

TagsTrans-Pacific Partnership, trans-pacific free trade, pacific rim trade deal, TPP, lifting trade barriers, U.S. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, free trade agreement