Japan lawmakers approve TPP despite Trump victory

Japan's lower house of parliament on Thursday passed the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal, a move largely viewed as an empty gesture due to opposition by US president-elect Donald Trump. President Barack Obama championed the 12-nation deal saying it would enable the United States to set the global trade agenda in the face of China's increasing economic clout. The TPP is seen as a counterweight to China, as Beijing expands its sphere of influence and promotes its own wa