Trade supporters are pushing the geopolitical importance of a sweeping Asia-Pacific agreement in an effort to save the deal from defeat on Capitol Hill.
Proponents are arguing that passing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will demonstrate U.S. leadership in the region and will define future economic relationships that assure the long-term stability of the Pacific Rim.
“TPP recognizes both America’s concrete economic interests in Asia and demonstrates U.S. steadfastness,” Robert Zoellick, the former World Bank president and U.S. trade representative, recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
“If the U.S. abandons TPP, our Asian allies and partners will perceive America as yielding to China, and they will accommodate accordingly,” said Zoellick, who met with White House officials last week on trade.
The White House has argued that the TPP sets the stage for tougher global trading rules that will give the United States an economic and strategic edge in the region amid China’s economic rise.
Read more:
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/281496-geopolitics-moves-to-center-stage-of-obama-trade-deal-push
