Pacific Rim nations sign giant trade deal amid protests

The US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New Zealand on Thursday as protestors demonstrated over fears for jobs and sovereignty. The ambitious deal, promising the elimination of nearly all tariffs among the 12 member nations, aims to break down trade and investment barriers between countries accounting for about 40 percent of the global economy. While New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and US Trade Representative Mike Froman lauded the pact