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.
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TPP worth hanging onto: Ciobo
Trade Minister Steve Ciobo isn't giving up on the trans pacific partnership despite US President Donald Trump planning to withdraw from the global trade 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.
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"Without the US, the TPP pact is meaningless, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has clearly said," deputy cabinet secretary Koichi Hagiuda said, according to the English-language Japan Times.
"The fundamental balance of interests is lost without the US."
Japan was "not thinking about an action with 11 countries" at the present time, Mr Hagiuda reportedly said at a press conference.
However, Singapore held out an olive branch, with its trade ministry telling The Straits Times it wanted to "discuss the way forward" with the TPP nations, and explore other free-trade initiatives.
Japan, the second-largest economy among the 12 TPP members, was the only country to have ratified the agreement. But it cannot take effect without the US and would have to be renegotiated.
Mr Abe's apparent unwillingness to do so will be a blow to Mr Turnbull, who hosted the Japanese leader in Australia this month and stressed the importance of trade for local industry.
"Trade is critical to us," he said. "Losing the United States from the TPP is a big loss, there is no question about that. But we are not about to walk away from our commitment to Australian jobs."
It came as Treasurer Scott Morrison borrowed a phrase from the Trump playbook and declared the government was pursuing an "Australia First" policy when it came to free-trade agreements.
"Australia's a trading nation, an Australia First policy does embrace trade and foreign investment and all of these things," he told Bloomberg News. "Our economic interests are very much aligned with that approach."
There was still "a lot to be gained" from the TPP and "we intend to pursue that", Mr Morrison said.
Trade Minister Steve Ciobo has also suggested a possible "12 minus one" arrangement without the US.
By contrast, the Labor opposition declared the deal "dead", and argued any attempt to ratify the agreement in the Australian Parliament - flagged earlier by Mr Turnbull - would be a pointless waste of time.
"The rest of the world and everyone in Australia knows it's over," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said, while adding: "Of course we need to salvage our trade agreements, and I do think it is important to pursue trade arrangements with nations."
But he pointed out Australia had already negotiated trade deals with several neighbouring countries - including one with Japan, concluded under the former Abbott government.