Trade pact close to reality, says Robb

Australian Minister of Trade Andrew Robb says a free trade agreement is close to being "sealed". Source: AAP

THE 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement is close to being "sealed", Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb says.

Mr Robb, in the US to lead the Australian government's delegation for the G'Day USA promotion, says the Obama administration has attempted to entice him to Washington DC for TPP talks.

Mr Robb told AAP on Saturday he would wait for formal TPP discussions scheduled "in a couple of weeks".

The TPP is being negotiated between Australia, the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam - countries that comprise almost 40 per cent of the world's GDP.

US President Barack Obama had set a deadline to clinch the TPP deal by the end of 2013 and is facing growing pressure from members of Congress critical of the secrecy around the discussions.

Mr Robb dismissed similar critics in Australia.

"It is nonsense to suggest that people are in the dark," Mr Robb, who attended the G'Day USA ball in Los Angeles on Saturday, told AAP.

He was upbeat about the countries agreeing to the TPP.

"It's ready to be sealed," Robb said.

"A few big things have to end up back on the table yet, but it is close.

"I would hope we are going to see progress obviously this year and sooner rather than later."

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