A trans-Pacific free trade pact without the United States covering 13 percent of the global economy is set to enter into force on Dec. 30 after Australia's ratification Wednesday, a move that appears to counter U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist policy."We will proactively engage in strengthening trade framework based on free and fair rules," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the Japanese Diet as Australia became the sixth nation to ratify the 11-member deal.The deal, which will cut tariffs on agriculture and industrial products and also ease investment restrictions and enhan…READ FULL ARTICLE