The Trade Minister is expecting an agreement today to move ahead with the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal without the US.

Todd McClay is co-chairing a meeting of the remaining 11 countries in Vietnam this morning.

He's expecting an agreement supporting the trade deal, and working out the process to move forward.

"Officials will need to meet and do a lot of detailed work about how an agreement of 11 might go forward," he said.

"There will be different views around that but there is a commitment to continue to engage and I would hope we have a decision by end of year."

Mr McClay said he's been trying to get a better understanding of New Zealand's position ahead of this morning's meeting and there appears to be building consensus for the deal.

"I would expect an agreement in support of the importance of TPP and direction about timeframes and [the] process of how we would like to get to the stage where countries can decide whether TPP 11 can go ahead."