Japan's lower house of parliament has passed the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal. It's a move largely viewed as an empty gesture, due to opposition by US president-elect Donald Trump.

The TPP Agreement was signed by 12 countries including Japan, Australia, and the United States in February this year. The countries which have signed on for the deal account for almost 40 percent of total global economic output. The deal has more than 30 chapters covering areas including investment, services, electronic business and government purchases.