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?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The Trans-Pacific Partnership (signed 2016) was a free-trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries — the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Chile, Peru and New Zealand.
• Statement 1 is wrong: many Pacific Rim countries besides China and Russia (e.g. South Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Colombia) were not members.
• Statement 2 is wrong: it was a trade and investment pact, not a maritime-security alliance.
• After the US withdrew in 2017, the remaining 11 formed the CPTPP.
• Hence neither 1 nor 2, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 1 is wrong: many Pacific Rim countries were not members.
- (b) 2 only
- Statement 2 is wrong: TPP was a trade pact.
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- Both statements are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.