The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) may not be dead in the water just yet, with Canada's trade minister denying that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deliberately skipped a leaders' meeting in Vietnam.

François-Philippe Champagne said the 11 remaining nations, which include New Zealand, had "made good progress" on striking a deal, though there was still work to do.

Talks to revive the free trade deal appeared to have collapsed on Friday night when Trudeau failed to show up to a leaders' meeting, but Champagne blamed his absence on "a misunderstanding about the schedule".

SEONG JOON CHO/GETTY IMAGES Before Justin Trudeau's no-show, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had made good progress on contentious investor-state disputes resolution clauses and preserving market access.

Reuters reported on Saturday morning that the 11 nations had agreed to the core elements of a deal, but still had details to iron out.

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Reuters said it had seen a draft of the nations' final statement, which was due to be released later in the day.

The statement said a "limited set of provisions" from the original deal would be suspended, while further technical work was needed on areas that still needed consensus "to prepare finalised text for signature". It did not say when that might happen.

A Canadian official said: "We've agreed to a framework towards the deal, with work programmes to deal with issues."

Before Trudeau's no-show at the leaders' meeting, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had made good progress on contentious investor-state disputes resolution clauses and preserving market access.

But after Trudeau failed to turn up, Ardern told reporters that talks had been postponed, and that she didn't know when they would reconvene. Adding to the confusion, she said she was under the impression Canada had withdrawn from negotiations.

Ardern has a one-on-one meeting scheduled with Trudeau at the East Asia Summit in Manila, in the Philippines, starting on Sunday. She was also set to meet him at an Apec dinner late on Friday, and on Saturday in Vietnam.

It is understood Canada, the second largest economy in the TPP since the United States withdrew, had been in bilateral talks with Japan on role difference before Trudeau's no-show at the meeting.

Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker said that, on Thursday night, it had appeared all Canada's issues had been resolved to its satisfaction.

Parker said other countries in the room, including Australia, were surprised by Canada's non-appearance at the talks.

- Reuters, Stuff