ASSESSMENTS

A Trade Deal With a Long Past and an Uncertain Future

Sep 28, 2016 | 09:00 GMT

A Trade Deal With a Long Past and an Uncertain Future
In the course of a decadelong negotiation process, the Trans-Pacific Partnership grew from a free trade deal between four states into a massive 12-member framework. Now, its future rests with U.S. lawmakers and the country's next president.

(KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

Nearly eight months after the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was signed, its fate is still up in the air. While giving a speech in Havana on Sept. 26, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his commitment to ratify the agreement before the end of the year. On the same day, Japan's legislature convened for a 66-day special session to discuss, among other things, bills to adopt the TPP. Given the ruling Liberal Democratic Party coalition's supermajority in both houses of the legislature, the TPP is almost certain to pass in Japan. But that will do little to quell regional doubts over the deal's future, which has become increasingly subject to the vagaries of U.S. politics. 

Nearly eight months after the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was signed, its fate is still up in the air. While giving a speech in Havana on Sept. 26, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his commitment to ratify the agreement before the end of the year. On the same day, Japan's legislature convened for a 66-day special session to discuss, among other things, bills to adopt the TPP. Given the ruling Liberal Democratic Party coalition's supermajority in both houses of the legislature, the TPP is almost certain to pass in Japan. But that will do little to quell regional doubts over the deal's future, which has become increasingly subject to the vagaries of U.S. politics. ...

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