The Trans-Pacific Partnership: New Paradigm or Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Boston College International & Comparative Law Review, Vol. 34, p. 27, 2011

Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper No. 15/2017

27 Pages Posted: 12 Aug 2011 Last revised: 9 Oct 2020

See all articles by Meredith Kolsky Lewis

Meredith Kolsky Lewis

University at Buffalo Law School; Victoria University of Wellington Law School

Date Written: August 11, 2011

Abstract

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is currently negotiating with seven other countries to form a new trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP has the potential to expand into a Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). At present there are several competing models for Asia-Pacific economic integration that exclude the United States entirely. In such an environment, the TPP presents the United States with a welcome opportunity, not only to participate, but also to take a leadership role in establishing the terms for a region-wide agreement. Nevertheless, the USTR must make the TPP sufficiently attractive to other Asia-Pacific economies, such that those countries will prefer the TPP over other integration models. This will require the USTR to partially diverge from its standard FTA template and liberalize in new areas. Although doing so may be politically challenging, it is the United States’ best strategy if it wishes to solidify a role for itself in an economically integrated Asia-Pacific.

Keywords: Office of the United States Trade Representative, Trans-Pacific Partnership, Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific

Suggested Citation

Lewis, Meredith Kolsky, The Trans-Pacific Partnership: New Paradigm or Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? (August 11, 2011). Boston College International & Comparative Law Review, Vol. 34, p. 27, 2011, Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper No. 15/2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1908411

Meredith Kolsky Lewis (Contact Author)

University at Buffalo Law School ( email )

School of Law
719 O'Brian Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1100
United States

Victoria University of Wellington Law School ( email )

PO Box 600
Wellington, 6140
New Zealand

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