The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) was a proposed free trade agreement between 12 nations, covering a range of economic and trade policies. Negotiations for the TPPA began in 2005 but were only finalized in 2015. However, the agreement was never ratified and, as of 2021, is no longer in force.

The TPPA was designed to deepen economic ties between the participating countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. The agreement aimed to eliminate or reduce trade barriers, such as tariffs, between the countries to boost economic growth.

One of the key benefits of the TPPA was the potential to create a regional economic bloc that would be more competitive on the global stage. The agreement also included provisions for intellectual property protection, labor standards, and environmental regulations.

However, the TPPA was not without controversy. Critics argued that the agreement would lead to job losses in certain sectors, such as manufacturing, as companies moved operations to countries with lower labor costs. Others were concerned about the impact of the intellectual property provisions on access to affordable medicine.

In addition, the negotiation process for the TPPA was criticized for being opaque and lacking in transparency. Critics argued that the negotiations were dominated by large corporations and that the public had little input into the process.

Ultimately, the TPPA was never ratified by the United States, which withdrew from the agreement in 2017 under the Trump administration. Without the participation of the US, the TPPA was not viable, and the remaining 11 signatories decided to proceed with a modified agreement known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

In conclusion, while the TPPA was never ratified, it remains an important historical beacon for free trade agreements. The agreement`s provisions aimed to promote economic growth and deeper cooperation between participating countries. However, critics had valid concerns about the potential negative effects of the agreement on certain sectors of the economy and its lack of transparency. Ultimately, despite its potential merits, the TPPA was never fully realized, and the CPTPP now stands in its place.