The Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement, or TPP, is a trade agreement that was negotiated between 12 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, including the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia. The agreement, which was signed in 2016, aimed to increase trade between these countries by reducing tariffs and other trade barriers.
However, the TPP has been controversial since its inception, with critics arguing that it has the potential to harm workers and the environment. One of the most contentious issues surrounding the agreement is the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, which allows foreign investors to sue governments if they feel their investments have been unfairly treated. Critics argue that this could lead to countries being sued for regulating in the public interest, such as enacting environmental or labor protections.
Supporters of the TPP argue that it would have had significant economic benefits for participating countries. According to a report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the TPP could have increased real incomes in the United States by $131 billion per year by 2030.
However, in 2017, President Trump withdrew the United States from the TPP, effectively killing the agreement. This move was met with criticism from some trade experts, who argued that the agreement would have provided a counterbalance to China`s growing economic power in the region.
Today, countries that were once part of the TPP have moved on to other trade agreements. For example, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was signed in 2018, includes 11 of the original TPP signatories (the United States is the only country missing). The CPTPP includes many of the same provisions as the TPP, such as reduced tariffs, but also includes stronger labor and environmental protections.
In conclusion, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement was a contentious trade agreement that aimed to increase trade between 12 Pacific Rim countries. While the agreement had the potential for significant economic benefits, it was ultimately withdrawn by the United States, and countries have since moved on to other trade agreements.