How Donald Trump damaged America’s interests in Asia
China is itching to join the region’s premier trade pact
Donald trump entered the White House in 2017 with a long hit list. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal which he called “a rape of our country”, was near the top. Just three days into his presidency, Mr Trump moved to kill it—and succeeded only in denying America its benefits. While America ditched the pact, others defied expectations by staying wedded to it and the principles of free trade and multilateral rule-making it represented. Five years ago this week, ministers from the 11 remaining countries met in Chile to sign the renamed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP).
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Donald Trump could not kill it”
From the March 11th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Asia
Who is Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s possible next president?
The Economist interviews the divisive progressive leader
Is Cambodia slipping out of China’s orbit?
A new generation of leaders could be more receptive to the West
Why Taiwanese youth complain of becoming “housing slaves”
A new generation is questioning the value of homeownership
The Quad finally gets serious on security
The Indo-Pacific coalition signals a tougher approach to China
Taiwan’s political drama is paralysing its government
Domestic dysfunction plays right into China’s hands
An angry culture war surrounds Australia Day
Conservatives claim that wokeness is destroying the national holiday