The Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Negotiations : Some Outstanding Issues for the Final Stretch

Negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (“TPP”) are reaching the end-Game. After more than three years of hard bargaining, the twelve members are down to the most sensitive issues: some agricultural products, textiles, intellectual property, state-owned enterprises, and a dispute resolution system. In addition, officials have to begin thinking about the longer term. How will the agreement be ratified and implemented? How will new members join? How can a living agreement be created? How can the TPP be expanded into the Free Trade area of the Asia-Pacific in APEC? Finally, how will the TPP affect the global trading system?