TPP is Finally Behind Us.

President Trump's first executive action was to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership this week, generating a mixed reaction from trade and supply chain analysts.

Harry J. Kazianis, Director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest, (a Washington DC think tank) told LM that with the U.S. leaving the trade pact – a massive deal that would have included close to 40% of world trade, or roughly $28 trillion – the agreement is now “ancient history.”

What happens next will be vital for the Trump administration, he adds,

“We must remember, TPP, at its core, was never about trade,” he says. “It provided very little economic benefits to the United States, as Washington already had many trade agreements with the various signatories of TPP.”

Kazianis maintains that TPP's real goal was to demonstrate to our Asian trading partners that the U.S. was providing a “safety blanket” – insurance that Washington was in Asia to stay, as China continues its aggressive expansion policies in the region.

For Rosemary Coates, president of Blue Silk Consulting and author of Rules for Sourcing and Manufacturing in China. just the opposite reaction may take place.

“Outside influence and funding from USAID and other organizations is important to continue this trade standardization work and stabilize this region,” she says. “But it is very likely with the US backing away from TPP and other trade deals in the Pacific under the new Trump administration, China will step in to fill the void, influence and accelerate the development across Asia.”

Chris Rogers, a Research Analyst for Panjiva, an online search engine with detailed information on global suppliers and manufacturers, says Trump may still “strike a less immediately hawkish tone” than during or since the election campaign.

“With regards to NAFTA the notice-to-withdraw is being held back as a threat if negotiations are refused,” he observes.

“The commitment to have the Department of Commerce take a more rigorous line on trade violations remains, but it nonspecific.”

Brandon Stallard, CEO of TPS Logistics, a Troy, Mich.-based third party logistics management provider with global operations, agrees that NAFTA might be different story.

“We support our president, and it looks like he's doing the right thing about getting out of the TPP. We were not about to enter a level playing field, and most of U.S. manufacturing was not going to gain much by participating.”

Stallard believes that NAFTA is “a different ball game,” however.

“Here in Michigan, our automotive suppliers recently got together and concluded that President Trump is a real businessman. He's not going take any chances with hemispheric supply chains if they are really working.”

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