TPP-11 as a Means to Revive the TPP after U.S.’ Withdrawal

Abstract

This article analyzes the means of reviving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (hereinafter “TPP”) from its frustration as a result of the withdrawal of the U.S. in January 2017. After briefly tracing the history of the TPP from its inception as a Pacific four (hereinafter “P4”) agreement between Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in the early 2000s to its enlargement in 2008 by the United States (hereinafter “U.S.”) declaration to join the TPP negotiation, the conclusion of the negotiation with its signature in February 2016, and then through the U.S. withdrawal, the article traces the developments after the U.S. withdrawal to revive the TPP without the U.S., focusing on the TPP-11 Trade Ministers’ pledge to revive the TPP in May and the following Chief Negotiators’ Meeting in July. The article then explores the possible options for realizing the TPP with its original 11 negotiating parties excepting the U.S. It concludes with the assertion that the TPP should be entered into force even without the U.S., as it should become a model of the 21st century regional trade agreement, as envisioned by the U.S.

Keywords: TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), mega-FTAs, P4 (Pacific four), President Trump, U.S. trade policy, APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)