Japan's parliament ratified the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade deal on Friday, but it was largely viewed as an empty gesture owing to opposition by US President-elect Donald Trump. A majority of upper house lawmakers, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition, approved the bill, while the opposition voted against it, following last month's passage through the powerful lower house.
Japan's top government spokesman called the deal's passage "a message to the world about Japan's strong determination to promote free trade". "We will continue to urge signatory countries to swiftly" pass the bill, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo.