Trudeau announces Pacific trade agreement without U.S.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday that Canada — along with the 10 other remaining countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — would work toward creating a revised trade agreement.

Trudeau said in a statement that the countries involved, not including the U.S., finished talks in Tokyo on a "new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)."

In the statement, Trudeau said "strengthening Canada's economic relationship with countries in the large and economically fast-growing Asia-Pacific region to support prosperity and create jobs for our middle class is a priority for Canada."

He said Canada had always said it would agree to a deal that is in Canada's best interests.

According to the Associated Press, those involved are hoping to sign an agreement by early March.

The move comes about a year after Trump signed an executive order announcing his plan to withdraw the U.S. from the TPP trade deal.

After signing the order last year, Trump said leaving the 12-nation pact is a "great thing for the American worker."

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