Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) were successfully concluded on 5 October 2015. The free trade agreement has potentially far-reaching economic and geo-political consequences for member and non-member countries. Two distinguished scholars will examine these consequences in the seminar.
Friday, 08 July 2016
– ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute had the pleasure of hosting Professor Shujiro Urata from Waseda University, Japan to deliver a seminar on “Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP): Origin, Special Features, and Economic Implications”.
Dr Cassey Lee, ISEAS Senior Fellow & Co-Coordinator, Regional Economic Studies Programme, chairing the seminar and introducing Professor Shujiro Urata to the audience (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)
Professor Urata presenting an overview of the TPP and discussing its origin, special features and economic implications (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)
When the U.S. joined the TPP, it changed the deal from a simple trade deal between small open economies to a mega-regional deal with significant geo-political ramifications for the Asia-Pacific region. These ramifications are all tied to whether the US Congress will or will not ratify the deal the Obama administration signed. Ratification would reinforce the US as a committed resident power Asia-Pacific power. Failure to ratify would undercut the US position in the region and regional countries supportive of the U.S.
Dr Malcolm Cook, ISEAS Senior Fellow, presenting his paper on “Flagging Trade: The Geo-Politics of the TPP” via Skype (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)
More than 30 participants attended the 1.5-hour morning seminar.
Participants at the seminar. (Source: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute)