Over the weekend the Senate's top Democrat Charles Schumer told union leaders the deal would not be ratified. House of Representatives Republican speaker Paul Ryan,who has in the past supported the TPP,said the"votes aren't there"to pass it.

Mr Trump made opposing the TPP a key part of his campaign,saying America did"not need to enter into another massive international agreement that ties us up and binds us down". Democrats members of Congress were never keen,opposing by a wide margin President Barack Obama's negotiating mandate which only passed into law with the support of Republicans.

On Sunday Australia's trade minister Steven Ciobo questioned whether it would be worthwhile concluding the agreement without the US,even if it was possible.

"In theory,yes,"he told the ABC'sInsiders."but is there enough merit to look at a trade deal among the 11 of us? It changes the metrics substantially."