TPP would pressure on China to increase standards: US

Source: PTI

The multi-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) accounting for 40% of the world economy would put pressure on China to raise its environmental and labour standards, the White House has said. “There's no denying that this does put pressure on China to raise environmental standards, to raise labour standards, and to incorporate the kind of intellectual property protections that are included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. His remarks come a day after 12 countries reached agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership following grueling Atlanta negotiations. TPP does put a lot of pressure on China that typically likes to see their own influence inside of Asia, and by raising economic standards in the Asia Pacific, the economic interests of the United States are well represented. “But it certainly is a way for the US to make clear to China that we welcome a rising and growing China, but that there are some expectations that the international community places on countries like China that are seeking to be a genuine international presence,” he asserted on Tuesday. He said President Barack Obama has made a quite overt case that if the US were to scale back its engagement in the Asia Pacific, it risks a scenario where China comes in, lowers standards and writes the rules of the road economically inside of Southeast Asia to put the United States, US businesses and US workers, principally, at a significant disadvantage. “The President has chosen the opposite tack, which is to go and engage throughout the Asia Pacific and to raise standards and write the rules of the road of the economy that levels the playing field for American businesses and American workers. That will have a positive impact on our economy. It will create jobs,” he said.  

October 07, 2015 | 5:08 pm IST.