charmaine degrasias, nhk world, tacloban. >>> transpacific partnership talks are underway in singapore. >> member countries have will really been hoping to have the talks done by year's end. there's quite a few issues where compromise is proving to be pretty elusive. trade ministers of the transpacific partnership member nations are trying to clinch a deal in singapore and narrow their differences, especially on issues about intellectual property. ministers from the 12 participating countries continued on the third day of negotiations on monday. u.s. officials are trying to strengthen intellectual property. they remain wide apart on the issue. the ministers are racing against time to strike a deal before they wrap up the talks on tuesday. earlier in the day, japanese senior vice minister of the cabinet office and u.s. trade representative michael froman unofficially met. details of the meeting have not been made public, but the officials are believed to have failed to reach an agreement on market access and other related issues. singapore's prime minister is urging japan to abolish tar