During this week’s meetings
in Laos, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered to support any ASEAN
country that wishes to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), according to the
Japan Times:
“The TPP will not divide ASEAN,” Abe said. The
importance placed on the TPP by Japan and the U.S. has been interpreted as an
effort to counter the regional influence of China, which is not party to the
pact. “The TPP was agreed after clearing political hurdles,” Abe said. “Japan
will support ASEAN countries wishing to participate in the TPP so that they can
bring their plans to fruition.”
This is important for
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar because ASEAN members do not automatically qualify
to accede to the TPP. According to
Article 30.4.1:
"1. This Agreement is open to accession by:
(a) any State or separate customs territory that is a member of APEC; and
(b) any other State or separate customs territory as the Parties may agree,
that is prepared to comply with the obligations in
this Agreement, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed between
the State or separate customs territory and the Parties, and following approval
in accordance with the applicable legal procedures of each Party and acceding
State or separate customs territory (accession candidate)."
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar
are not members of APEC, whereas Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand are
APEC members and satisfy these criteria.
Thus, Mr. Abe’s proposal will need to be supported by the other TPP
members to qualify Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar for the TPP. Given their less developed economies, these
countries would probably be in a potential third group of TPP candidates, after
countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and South Korea who are
currently considering joining in the next wave.
In any event, the TPP needs
ratification by its existing parties, particularly the U.S. Without U.S. ratification, the TPP will not
come into force, and that will largely depend on domestic political conditions
in America.
