Returning to Course: The United States and the Trans Pacific Partnership

Abstract

The United States withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership was a major setback to historic US interests and a dramatic reversal of course that left our friends and allies reeling. It also opened the door for China to re-write international law and norms on its terms. The impact of this decision is being felt most directly in the Asia-Pacific, and it limited the options of the INDOPACOM Commander by damaging our relationship with nations across the region. To prevent an economic and security order in the Asia-Pacific based on Chinese Communist Party norms, the United States must join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership and continue its expansion. This would reset the trajectory of the Asia-Pacific by regaining trust and deepening ties with actors in the region, preventing the ascension of Chinese Communist Party norms, and providing win-win enticement for China that could push the Sino-American relationship further into cooperation instead of competition. Given the security cooperation impact that rejoining the agreement could deliver, the USINDOPACOM commander should champion the concept throughout the US government.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 10, 2021
Accession Number
AD1152894

Entities

People

  • Bree Fram

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Cyber
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Asia
  • Climate Change
  • Commerce
  • Communists
  • Competition
  • Cooperation
  • Economic Systems
  • Foreign Aid
  • Governments
  • Humanities
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • Investments
  • Law
  • Market Economy
  • National Security
  • Recreation
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • Southeast Asia
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies