Pacific trade pact may not be doomed

There's an outside chance the flagging Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact could be revived after a meeting of trade ministers in Vietnam.

The fate of the 12-country deal appeared doomed after President Donald Trump scuttled US participation shortly after he took office in January.

The remaining 11 partners have been considering the prospects of pushing ahead.

On the sidelines of a weekend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vietnam ministers pencilled in more talks in Japan this July.

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo was in Hanoi for the meeting and supports moving the deal forward.

"Australia remains at the table because the Turnbull government is committed to creating export opportunities for Australian businesses to create more jobs," he said.

Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Brendan Pearson hopes the trade pact can be resurrected.

"Australia's manufacturing, agriculture, resources and services industries will all gain better access to regional export markets such as Japan, Canada, Mexico, Vietnam and Peru under a revived TPP," he said.

Mr Pearson argues America's withdrawal could actually increase benefits for Australia because some other TPP countries won't have preferential access to the US market, unlike our bilateral deal.