The 12 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is undergoing a comprehensive authorization process before it comes into effect in 2018, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said before the agreement came into effect it will first have be submitted to the Dewan Rakyat in January for approval, as reported by The Star.

TPPA is expected to only come into effect in two years, which is the transition process of the agreement, should it be approved by the Dewan Rakyat, said Najib during a press conference held during the conclusion of the 27th ASEAN Summit and related summits on Sunday.

The Pacific trade ministers reached a deal on TPPA, the most sweeping trade liberalization pact in a generation that will cut trade barriers and set common standards for 12 countries on October 5, 2015.

The deal agreed upon the 12 countries namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US, Vietnam and Malaysia could reshape industries and influence everything from the price of cheese to the cost of cancer treatments.

TPPA will set minimum standards on issues ranging from workers' rights to environmental protection and set up dispute settlement guidelines between governments and foreign investors separate from national courts.