Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement
A 21st Century Trade Agreement
The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership [TPP] is a regional free-trade agreement, that has expanded to nine countries from the original "P-4" agreement among New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and Brunei Darussalam, which came into force in May 2006.
The P-4 was first a trade negotiation to involve a group of Pacific Rim countries, and is the first multi-party trade agreement to link Oceania, Asia, and Latin America. It was specifically designed to permit other APEC countries to join and to serve as a pathway to broader Asia Pacific-wide trade liberalization and integration.
Following the initial US decision to join the negotiations in September 2008, Australia, Peru, Vietnam and Malaysia also joined, Vietnam initially as an "associate member". While the negotiations began in March 2010 among the nine countries already involved, all current parties foresee the TPP expanded to include other APEC member countries. Japan and Canada are among the countries frequently mentioned as possibilities.
Articles on TPP:
Outlines of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (11/14/2011)
"TPP Coalition Urges High Standard Outcomes" -TPP Coalition News Release (9/8/2011)
"Key confident of trade success"-stuff.co.nz (11/14/2010)
"NZ assures on Pacific free trade deal"-New Zealand Herald (11/15/2010)
"US trade talks confirmation 'significant'"-NZX (12/16/2009)
"White House Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations"- America.govt (11/14/2010)