Impact on U.S. Security Interests

By Tobias Harris

Tobias Harris analyzes Japanese politics and economics for Teneo Intelligence, the political risk division of corporate advisory firm Teneo. He is also Economy, Trade, and Business Fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA. 

In New Zealand on 4 February, trade ministers from the twelve signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) formally signed the pact, an important step towards lowering trade barriers and introducing new rules governing trade and investment among some of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest economies. However, while signing the agreement was an important symbolic step forward, all members still must ratify TPP within two years, or, failing that, at least six members with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of at least 85% of the bloc’s total GDP must ratify it at some point in the future for the agreement to come into force.

With the agreement signed, it is now up to political leaders to guide TPP to implementation. In the United States, Japan, and Canada, the bloc’s largest members without which it will be virtually impossible to bring TPP into force, the agreement has been shrouded in controversy as politicians have wrangled over the likely impact on businesses and workers. The agreement has already been drawn into U.S. presidential politics, with both Democratic and Republican candidates criticizing TPP for its anticipated impact on the U.S. economy.

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