The TPP Without America

The countries of the Pacific Alliance – a small Latin American trade bloc – will hold a summit next week in Vina del Mar, Chile. All eyes will be on another meeting, though, held on the sidelines of this summit. That meeting will bring together the remaining 11 members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership – as well as China, South Korea, and Colombia – March 14-15 to explore what future the TPP might have without the United States.

The U.S. was the largest and most influential member of the TPP, which would have been the biggest free trade area in history, representing 40 percent of the global economy. However, now that President Donald Trump has definitively confirmed his intent not to pursue congressional ratification of this Obama-era trade deal (although his administration will send a representative to the Vina del Mar talks), the remaining 11 members of the trade agreement must decide whether to forge on without America.