I AM never too sure what Malaysians want out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). To begin with, we need to see the big picture, and only then can we know how we fit into the scheme of things.
Three things are clear. Firstly, it is a partnership. Secondly, it is an agreement. Thirdly, it involves countries in the Trans-Pacific region. Broken up in this way, we can understand the big picture as it evolves.
First, a lot of give and take is needed to make the partnership work.
No one country can gain over another because of size or power. Cooperation and commitment to the idea of free trade are TPP’s main drivers.
As it is an agreement entered into by countries after lengthy negotiations, breaking up or reneging on one’s promises would invite legal action afterwards. Usually, there is an exit clause to allow for such possibilities.
Finally, TPP’s geographical limits define an area of economic growth or emerging markets in the coming century that are future-directed.
Apart from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the South American corridor, this will include the regions of East Asia, South East Asia, Australasia and the South Pacific islands.
The intention here is to complement other economic conurbations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Ultimately, of course, the resulting economic competition is considered more in benefiting all
these regions in its multilateral setting rather than the narrow regional and bilateral interests found now.
I believe there is no ground for us to oppose TPP in its present form.
Questions of sovereignty, identity and safeguards can be raised, but these are all within the scope of TPP when it is operationalised and implemented.
For us in Asean, we see TPP as complementing the free trade regime and economic integration efforts in place..
Anything more dramatic will have to involve all the 10 member countries.
Only Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia of the present member countries are in. Very likely, the rest may join TPP in good time.
But, it must noted that Asean’s success will definitely contribute to the growth of TPP by 2025.
I know it is too much for the government to expect us to comb through the 5,000-plus pages of printed text and know everything about the partnership, agreement and the region discussed above.
Being no expert on free trade agreements, and TPP is one, the least we can do is to apply our minds to it and be better informed of what is in it for us.
Only then can we embrace the change to be brought in by TPP.
n DR AZHARI-KARIM,Petaling Jaya, Selangor