DHAKA: US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has come out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement championed by Barack Obama.

The landmark trade deal involves 12 countries along the Pacific rim, including the US, Australia and Japan.

In an interview Hillary Clinton said the agreement left many "unanswered questions" and did not met the "high bar" she had set.

"I am not in favour of what I have learned about it," she told PBS, reports the BBC.

The former Secretary of State joins rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, in opposing the agreement.

The deal took five years to negotiate and covers 40 percent of the global economy.

Hillary Clinton's move to come out against the TPP - with some qualifications - less than a week out from the first Democratic debate will instantly be viewed in the context of Democratic presidential politics.

BDST: 0844 HRS, OCT 08, 2015
SR