As many will recall, the very first thing Donald Trump did as President, was repudiate the Transpacific Partnership, a multilateral trade agreement designed to lower trade barriers to US exports and imports alike, and build a strong economic alliance between the US, Asia, and the Indian sub continent. Sadly, Trump frequently attacked the TPP during his campaign. It was clear from his comments that he had little idea what the TPP actually was, and assumed it was a giveaway to China. He ignored the fact that China was actually excluded from the TPP and seemed to unaware that China was strongly opposed to the TPP and was doing everything to undermine it. We know that champagne corks popped in the Kremlin the night Trump was elected, the Duma erupted into cheers. The same thing happened a few days later in Beijing when Trump handed them the gift they wanted, cancelling US involvement in the TPP (and in so doing, giving away his greatest leverage in his attempts to get China to reign in its cat's paw, North Korea). Now the ramnifications of Trump's act are being felt in the farm belt. " In August, U.S. sales of pork to Japan dropped by 9 percent, a serious blow to farmers who had been preparing for a big increase in sales because of lower tariffs in the TPP." Japan has steeped into the political vacuum created by America's retreat from world leadership, and is trying to build a TPP of its own. But without American economic might, the effort lacks the force they once had till Trump blew it up. "But in interviews with POLITICO, more than a half a dozen senior Japanese officials said they were uneasy with a so-called bilateral — two-nation — deal to replace the TPP, arguing that the goal of the multi-national agreement was to create a wide international playing field. They said they are dismayed by Trump’s seeming inability to understand the importance of a multi-national pact to establish U.S. leadership in the region and set the trade rules for nations on both sides of the Pacific Ocean as a counterweight to China’s rising influence." "“Our prime minister has made it quite clear that we respect the U.S. decision ... That is our official position, but I think withdrawal from TPP is very wrong,” said one senior official. “Honestly, it has diminished many of things that the U.S. has achieved in the region.” http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/15/japan-trump-trade-243767
“In the conduct of our affairs with the United States, we need to have leverage,” said one former senior Japanese cabinet official. “In order for us to convince the U.S., we need to have our own leverage and our own leverage needs to be free-trade agreements [with U.S. competitors].” Ahem.. Also right under your headline As U.S. farmers suffer under high tariffs, Japanese officials are in no rush to cut a new trade deal with the United States. So why doesnt Japan just cut the tariffs? Hmm? Oh thats right they want leverage the same thing you are critical of Trump for. Oh whats that you ask? Japan's main competition in the region is China, and the two nations have polar views on how the South-east Asia's economy should develop. Prior to the TPP Japan tried to take dominance by establishing the Asian Monetary Fund (AMF), which the U.S blocked. By 2011 Japan managed to establish a cooperative agreement with China and Korea called the "PRC–Japan–Republic of Korea Free trade agreement", also known as the CJK FTA, which did not include the U.S. Japan's intention with this was so that they could use the People's Republic of China card in order to gain U.S support in order to have backing within the TPP, and shift the negotiations toward Japan's agendas with support of the United States.[61] On 9 December 2016, resolution of participation was made in House of Councillors, and notified completion of domestic procedures for ratification to the depositary of the treaty (New Zealand) as the first ratified country on 20 January 2017.[62] The same day later Donald Trump inaugurated president announced United States withdrawal from the TPP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Partnership
Why would they? What do they get out of it? Thanks for offering a little history. That's all part of trade negotiation. It has nothing to do with Trump's stupidity. Trump is not aware of anything in your post, and wouldn't understand it anyway.
I showed you Japan was willing to do anything that would further themselves including allying with China over us.. Ie Japan First.. Trump from day one has tried to put America first which have had people like you label him "xenophobic" and worse.. If you had a bloody clue about TPP you would know it did far more then settle trade issues. I gave you a link but you ignored it.
You showed me that Japan reached out to China after the US undermined its previous efforts, and showed me that Japan was using that move as a bargaining chip. I showed you that Trump's narrow minded, ill informed blunder actually leaves Americans last (especially American farmers). and puts China in the driver's seat in Asia. And to think that China got that victory with no effort at all. The clown prince just gave it away!
Yes Japan was putting Japan first.. Feel free to shred and insult them to remain consistent..... There is far more then that in the link provided.. Why just read what i quoted.. Afraid you might actually learn something about the topic?
I agree .. Trump still doesn't know anything about the TPP or healthcare. I suspect his keyboard warriors don't either.
Yes, well two people can read from Wikipedia. Your link also reported that the TPP would be a net gain for the US. Your link also noted the TPP's primary purpose, which was to thwart China's growing economic hegemony in the world's largest emerging market. Trump gave that away. You can explain to us how giving away the one thing your biggest economic rival wants without even thinking of asking for anything in return is putting America first.
There is much more involved in the TPP. Intellectual property rights were governed by the rules of the TPP. Now, these rules are gone it's open slather again on copyright infringement.
Ah, so a good deal for Japan is preferred over a good deal for the US. I know where you stand on the issue.
Your complete ignorance noted. I mean you seriously just said Trump didn't know about anything RP posted, are you suffering this bad from TDS? Do you read what you write? To think the President and his team doesn't know every angle of this deal but you of course have it figured, is beyond ignorant it's borderline nutts.
You will also notice how many things TPP covered that had nothing to do with opening trade. Read the whole thing next time you might learn something.. I tire of wasting my time discussing topics with lazy people who are afraid to actually learn something counter to their thoughts.
