The Trans-Pacific Partnership and America’s strategic role in Asia

The author delves deeply into the evolution of United States (US) policy toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the interplay of domestic US politics with vital US strategic interests. Trade policy stands at the intersection of a nation’s diplomatic and security strategies and its broad economic goals. Decisions regarding trade agreements, with both individual nations and groups thereof, are calculated to advance national strategic interests, as well as the fortunes of domestic corporations and workers. Political scientists also refer to trade policy-making as a two-level game: national leaders strive to forge an internal consensus on US trade negotiating goals and then must further attempt to achieve those goals at the international level. Utilizing these organizing themes, the author describes and analyzes the United States’ evolving role in Asia over the past three decades, where the juxtaposition of economic and security goals has propelled its actions and priorities. He concludes that the TPP is indispensable to the United States’ ability to maintain a central leadership role in Asia in the twenty-first century.