In a YouTube video released on Nov. 22, the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump delivered a direct-to-camera message in which he vowed to create jobs, end restrictions on energy production and withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on his first day in office on Jan. 20, 2017.
The TPP agreement, supported by President Barack Obama, was deemed as part of the border strategy to assert American values and influence both in Asia and other parts of the world, a way to balance China’s growing power and influences. While China is not included in the deal, it comprises a number of 12 countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and New Zealand that the U.S. wanted to build strong economic ties with. Signed earlier this year, the 12-nation TPP agreement is President Obama’s signature trade initiative.
In the video, the President-elect Trump reiterated his agenda to replace the deal with bilateral trade deals that help bring jobs back to the U.S.
“My agenda will be based on a simple core principle: putting America first. Whether it’s producing steel, building cars or curing disease, I want the next generation of production and innovation to happen right here on the great homeland, America, creating wealth and jobs for American workers,” he said in the video.
Whether withdrawing from TPP could lead to extreme protectionism remains to be seen. While the proposed withdrawal could play a positive role in preventing trade exclusiveness and steering clear of political influence on trade, Trump’s rhetoric of “putting America first” could potentially hurt other countries’ economic interests, including China.
On Monday, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized Trump’s proposal of withdrawing, saying the TPP would be “meaningless” without U.S. participation and that “this would disturb the fundamental balances of benefits.”
Since Nov. 8 when Trump defeated Democratic Party rival Hillary Clinton to become the U.S. president-elect, he has been busy with interviewing potential cabinet candidates to format his administration. While many people expressed their concerns about a Trump presidency, President Obama said he believes Trump will be driven by pragmatism, not ideology, when he governs. “I don’t think he is ideological. I think ultimately he is pragmatic,” President Obama said after meeting with Trump in the White House for the first time earlier November.
As a business mogul who values business achievements more than anything else, it was understandable that the new president-elect has a good intention when it comes to governing a country: making America great again, in a short period of time. However, unlike running a business, governing a country requires patience, wisdom, and sustainable plans. As an old Chinese proverb goes, “Haste does not bring success.”
As the second biggest economic entity in the world, China has taken measures to combat against the reality when the country was excluded from the TPP agreement. One of them was to create its own multi-country trade agreement, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the U.S. is not included. As long as the Trump administration can treat China with a pragmatic attitude and play by rules, there will be fewer obstacles for smooth and productive trade negotiations between the two sides. A successful trade deal should be reached on the basis of maximizing the benefits of both parties. The concept of “Putting America First” shouldn’t prioritize America’s interests on the bargaining table. A more flexible and corporative stance at the negotiation table will help avoid conflicts and bring in mutual prosperity and understanding.
Obama’s administration argued that the TPP could help lift 18,000 tariffs imposed on U.S. products sold abroad. If it were true, this would lower the price of U.S.-made products abroad and, in return, would increase their sales and creates jobs back at home, according to the U.S. government.
“These are just a few of the steps we will take to reform Washington and rebuild our middle class. I will provide more updates in the coming days as we work together to make America great again for everyone, and I mean everyone,” Trump said in the YouTube video.
What messages does Trump try to convey after eliminating the U.S. participation in the TPP? Will this trade exclusiveness help create more jobs and bring opportunities back to the shore? Those lingering questions remain to be seen as the new president-elect is trying to unveil a new era in U.S. history.
