Pacific trade negotiators push hard for deal

A deal on an ambitious Pacific Rim free-trade area appeared within reach as negotiators kept pushing to resolve the remaining issues over drug patents and auto and dairy trade. The arrival of senior US congressional aides at the hotel venue for the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks in Atlanta pointed to the possibility that top trade officials from 12 countries were close to agreement. Pressure was intense on negotiators, especially those from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United S