With reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the follow

With reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements:

  • 1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
  • 2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2016
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was a comprehensive trade agreement involving several countries around the Pacific Rim.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The TPP involved 12 specific countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, United States). While it did exclude China and Russia, it did not include *all* Pacific Rim countries (many others were not members).
Statement 2 is incorrect. The TPP was primarily an economic agreement focused on trade liberalization, reducing tariffs, and setting common standards across various sectors like intellectual property, labor, and environmental regulations. While economic cooperation can have strategic implications, it was not solely or primarily a strategic alliance for maritime security.
The United States withdrew from the TPP in 2017. The remaining 11 countries proceeded with a revised agreement called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which came into effect in 2018.