Asia-Pacific nations will try to rescue a massive trade deal scuppered by the pullout of the United States, a source involved in discussions told AFP Friday, as delegates meet in Hanoi for key talks this weekend.

US President Donald Trump abandoned the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in January calling it a "job killer" and throwing the pact's future into doubt.

The deal covered 40 percent of the world economy before the US withdrawal, and with its notable exclusion of China was intended to counter Beijing's economic prowess in the region.

Several remaining members have championed its revival, namely New Zealand and Japan, the only two countries that have formally ratified the deal.

Trade ministers from the 11 remaining TPP countries will meet on Sunday, where they are expected to agree to keep the deal alive.

"The big announcement if it all holds together will be that there will be agreement to move forward as TPP 11," the source said.

The door would "absolutely" remain open for the United States to return to the agreement in the future, the source added.

TPP members are expected to make an announcement Sunday on the sidelines of a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) bloc, which will also be attended by newly appointed US trade chief Robert Lighthizer.