Japan has swiftly rejected a push by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to press on with the doomed Trans-Pacific Partnership, reiterating its view that the deal is "meaningless" without the US.

US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the world's largest economy from the agreement prompted Mr Turnbull to suggest China could be brought in as a replacement to save the deal.

Mr Turnbull on Tuesday said he had spoken to the leaders of Japan, New Zealand and Singapore about how their nations could "maintain this momentum towards open markets and free trade".

But in a swift rebuff, Japan indicated it was not considering any further action on the TPP, repeating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's declaration that the deal was "meaningless" without Washington.