Recently, the newly elected United States president released a video outlining his plans for his first 100 days in the Oval Office. In particular, Trump confirmed that he is going to pull out of the TPP deal, which he described as a "potential disaster" for the US.
"If the US withdrew then China could join the deal. I think then Beijing would not miss this opportunity to fill in the void," Clemente Ruiz Duran, a financial analyst and professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, suggested in an interview with RIA Novosti.
The TPP agreement has been considered one of the main foreign policy achievements by incumbent Barack Obama’s administration.
The negotiations were finalized in October and must now be ratified by all 12 signatories within the next two years.
According to Ruiz Duran, the TPP would create an opportunity for Latin American countries to increase trade with Asian countries.
In turn, "the agreement would give Asian countries a broader access to the US market via Latin America," he said.
The expert warned of premature conclusions on the future of TPP, based only on Trump’s statements.
"It’s too early for conclusions now. The situation resembles a game of chess. The figures are still moving. The game goes on until it’s lost," Ruiz Duran said.
He noted that there will be new conditions if China decides to replace the US in the deal.
"But even if the TTP collapsed there would be new alliances and new agreements, including with China," he said.
