While there has been a lot of focus on international trade organizations or trade-cooperation platforms recently such as ASEAN and APEC, there is one regional trade agreement that continues to quietly gather support. At least seven countries have ratified the once dead Trans Pacific Partnership. Greg Navarro has more from Sydney.

Just weeks ago, smiling officials from Australia and New Zealand told reporters that enough countries had formally ratified the Trans Pacific Partnership to set the removal of trade barriers in motion.

DAVID PARKER, MINISTER NEW ZEALAND TRADE AND EXPORT GROWTH "It has benefits that will spread throughout the economy to every person in New Zealand from the factory floor to the farm owner to all of the other service industries that rely upon our service industries."

Less than 2 years ago, US President Donald Trump announced that his country would withdraw from the landmark Pacific Rim deal, a regional free trade agreement designed to remove barriers.

GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY "But a group of countries, including Australia and Japan, saw the value of the TPP, even without the US, and continued to gather support."

SHINZO ABE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER "As a promoter of free trade, Japan will work towards the global advancement of free and fair rules, said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Vietnam has become the latest of the 11 nations involved to formally ratify the agreement, which includes several countries from outside of Asia, such as Mexico, Chile, and Peru."

PROFESSOR TIM HARCOURT, ECONOMIST UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES "It is very important for a country like Mexico in North America and Latin America looking towards Asia - the TPP provides a very good mechanism for them - the same with Chile and Peru and countries like them. So I still think it is a force for good in terms of the Asia Pacific and in particular, bringing the Latin American and Asian economies together."

The 11 countries in the agreement represent about 13% of the world's gross domestic product. With the United States, that number jumps to 40%. Last week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the door for the US to join the agreement remains open.

SCOTT MORRISON AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER "I know there are legitimate questions around trade arrangements, but the solution to perceived unfair trade practices is more likely to be found around a negotiating table than it is in building a tariff war."

The first round of tariff reductions goes into effect at the end of December. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.