From TPP to new trade arrangements in the Asia-Pacific region

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), signed in February 2016 by the representatives of its 12 member countries, is a comprehensive regional agreement dealing with a wide range of trade and trade-related issues.

In January 2017, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the TPP, making it impossible for the agreement, as it is currently drafted, to take effect. Despite the US withdrawal, the remaining TPP participating countries are determined to salvage the benefits of the agreement, and are working to develop alternative approaches to bring the trade deal into force. The failure of the TPP is likely to influence the way that other economic and trade cooperation initiatives, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), will develop in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US withdrawal also represents an opportunity for the EU, which is strongly committed to a robust trade policy and an open trading system, to advance its interests in the region. The EU is currently working on or has already concluded bilateral trade agreements with almost all TPP member countries.

ESO: Background information: Comments on future US Foreign and Trade Policies http://www.europeansources.info/record/comments-on-future-us-foreign-and-trade-policies/

---