TPP and Something Else

So Trump signed the order to withdraw from Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This was one of the pillars from his campaign, so it’s not surprising.

So who benefited from TPP?

• Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States of America and Vietnam

Who is NOT in the TPP?

• China

The entire reason we pursued TPP is to act as a foil to China’s ambition in the region. The agreement would have encouraged more trades between US and other signatories.

Where do you think they will go now for trades?

Guess what China is doing?

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a trade agreement between Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Suddenly there is a lot more incentive for those TPP signatories to join RCEP.

Do you think this will serve USA’s interests?

Can we expect a President that frets over the size of inaugural crowd and believes in the conspiracy theory that 3-5 million illegals voted in the election to understand this?