America’s FTA Strategy: Regional or Global? The Behavioral Logic behind American Promotion of TPP

　　Abstract:Revisionist theories of new regionalism show that the goal great economic powers seek through regional cooperation is to obtain the capacity to influence international economic rules.Against the backdrop of its declining power, the United States participation in and promotion of TPP serves not only to weaken the influence of East Asian trade groupings, but also helps the U.S.leverage its asymmetric economic advantages to promote American style trade norms in East Asia.This places pressure on emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil, forcing them to accept American trade standards in multilateral trade negotiations and maintain America’sposition and interests with respect to global trade.In the future, regardless of developments in the TPP negotiations, America will continue to focus more attention on regional cooperation as a means of responding to the rise of emerging powers. This will help mold the trade by placing America at center in multilateral trade negotiations, consolidate America’sasymmetric position vis-à-vis emerging trade blocs, and force such emerging trade blocs to accept America trade principles. 

　　About the Author: Shen Minghui is an Associate Professor in the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences