As expected, one of President Donald Trump’s first moves was effectively to scrap the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional free trade pact of 12 Asia-Pacific nations promoted by former president Barack Obama. Mr Trump has long been an opponent of the TPP since it conflicts with his own protectionist agenda. He has pledged to examine every trade deal the US has signed and renegotiate them if he thinks he can get a better deal for American workers. But as he sets about pursuing his goals, he risks leaving the door open for China to dominate trade in Asia.
The TPP, from which Mr Trump withdrew in January, was seen as the centrepiece of the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia, which aimed to strengthen America’s ties with the region. Negotiations had been under way since 2008, with the partnership not only including provisions for reductions in tariffs but also a number of trading commitments, most notably labour and environmental protections.
However, Mr Obama never had the full support of Congress, despite the fact that the final proposal for the trade agreement was signed in February 2016 by all 12 member countries. In August last year the US Senate delayed voting until the next president was in place, with both presidential candidates at that stage also against the deal.