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If it has no actual effect, that’s actually scarier for US partisans than if it was genuinely an economic boon. The simple reason being that it indicates that
by addicted 6y ago
If it has no actual effect, that’s actually scarier for US partisans than if it was genuinely an economic boon.
The simple reason being that it indicates that all these countries, including US allies, are willing to put their names on an agreement with China which will only serve to anger the US even if there is no material benefit in doing so.
That’s either a huge FU to the US, or more likely, them believing, unlike in 2016 after the TPP, that it’s more important to keep China happy because the US will have relatively less influence in the region.
Either way, it indicates that the leadership of the countries who signed up for this believe that the relative strength of the US vs China in the region has reduced.
- wombatmobile 6y agoI'm sure all these countries would do trade deals with the US if the US had a deal-maker leader who ascribed to the philosophy of win-win.
- cinquemb 6y agoIs it really a win-win though when alot of deals/projects now already languish? If people think the investor covenant situation in the US is bad, it's that much worse in asia. A lot of money burning pits and lack of fast progress isn't really going to change unless the situation on the ground can actually improve and it wont happen from diktats (TPP, RCEP, etc) from above.
- wombatmobile 6y agoNot saying RCEP or TPP are good deals - just that if all parties tried to construct mutually beneficial deals there’s every reason to expect countries to trade with USA.