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”
More from Asia
The scary new map of the South China Sea
Fresh fights over reefs and shoals test America’s credibility
Could Japan and South Korea finally become friends?
Younger generations are less concerned with their countries shared history
Taiwan is trying to learn from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine
Could it repel a potential Chinese invasion?
Myanmar’s military junta is battered by Chinese-backed forces
The Brotherhood Alliance continues its string of shock victories
Why Indonesia’s horror films are booming
Directors such as Joko Anwar are taking old ghost stories to new heights
Welcome to India, where the streets have four names
Constantly renaming cities, roads and stations is pointless and counterproductive