"We're only 10 months into a 24-month ratification process so I think we just need to give the Americans time."

During talks on Saturday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, agreed to push for the early ratification of the TPP.

In a joint statement after their meeting, both leaders said the TPP remained an "indispensable priority because of the significant economic and strategic benefits it offers".

Mr Turnbull emphasised the importance of free trade because "protectionism is not a ladder to get an economy out of a low-growth trap, it is a shovel to dig it deeper".

"While there is more than a whiff of protectionism in the global political environment, the Prime Minister and I are thoroughly committed to free trade and the open markets, to bringing into force the TPP," he said.

"The road to prosperity is found by a commitment to open markets, to free trade and that is our commitment."

Mr Abe has been a dedicated champion of the TPP, insisting that tariff demolition will bring unprecedented economic benefits to the region. In November, he said the TPP would be "meaningless" without the US.

"We have taken a leading role in the region to ensure the investment in free trade," Mr Abe said on Saturday.


"We have served as leading participants in the TPP."

The TPP as it stands requires ratification by all 12 nations, including the US. If the US does not come to the party and TPP partners want to pursue an agreement without the world's largest economy, they would need to renegotiate the terms.

"No one's talking about that yet," Mr Ciobo said. "We're focused on giving the Americans time."

Mr Ciobo said with the support of the Opposition, enabling legislation could clear the Australian Parliament this year.

The easiest way forward for the government is to win Labor's support so it does not have to negotiate in the Senate with the Nick Xenophon Team and One Nation, who have major reservations about free trade deals.

Labor supports the TPP in principle, putting it at odds with unions and the Greens, which oppose it outright.

During the US election campaign, Mr Trump released a video laying out actions he would take on his first day in office on January 20, including withdrawing from the TPP.

"I am going to issue a notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a potential disaster for our country," he said.


"Instead we will negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals."

The Japan-Australia trade relationship started in 1957 but was turbocharged two years ago with the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, or JAEPA.

Now, more than 97 per cent of Australian exports to Japan enter duty free or under preferential tariff rates.

Exports of Australian wine, beef, grapes and macadamia nuts have seen major growth under the JAEPA, Mr Ciobo said in a statement on Saturday.

The next tariff reductions under the JAEPA will take effect on April 1 this year.

Mr Abe also met with NSW Premier Mike Baird, who released a statement saying he and the Japanese leader discussed bilateral investment opportunities, infrastructure programs and financing, and the NSW government's participation in the Japan Now exchange program in 2018.

Mr Baird said the success of the JAEPA has opened doors for NSW exporters, particularly in the agricultural sector where meat exports to Japan have grown by $14.1 million and fish exports have increased by more than 50 per cent since January 2015.

Mr Abe and his wife Akie departed Sydney on Sunday morning to continue their diplomatic tour of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.