A Study On The Impact Of Vietnam’s Accession To The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

The source of the current Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement(TPP)is from the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement(also known as P4).This free trade agreement was signed in March 6,2005 by Singapore,Chile,New Zealand and Brunei.In 2008,the United States,Australia and Peru announced their participation in the negotiations.On November 13th 2010,Vietnam joined the agreement,and then Malaysia,Mexico,Canada and Japan also took part.The negotiations were concluded on October 5th 2015,and the TPP agreement was officially signed on 4 February 2016.TPP has been regarded as one of the tools of the Obama administration to "return to Asia-Pacific",and to act against China’s continuation of its expanding power in this region.TPP includes both traditional and non-traditional trade commitments.As one of the TPP underdeveloped member countries,Vietnam is also seen as the country that can get the most benefit from the agreement.But,after the new President of the United States,Donald Trump,was inaugurated,the US announced its withdrawal from the TPP,so other TPP members have to make the decision of continuing ratifying or withdrawing this agreement.This paper relies on the perspective of international relations,on the one hand it analyzes the background and the processes of Vietnam’s accession to TPP and the impact of TPP on Vietnam’s economy,on the other hand it examines the current situation of Vietnam’s economy and the trade cooperation between Vietnam and other TPP member countries,and it speculates on the benefits and the challenges that Vietnam has to face.In addition,due to the TPP’s high standard of non-traditional trade,the content of Vietnam’s reform in the national management and legal system is also the object of this thesis.Besides,this thesis also uses the knowledge of international relations to analyze the status of Vietnam in the "return to Asia-Pacific"strategy of the ex-U.S President Obama’s administration,the U.S-China diplomatic balance policy of Vietnam,and the attitude and countermeasures of Vietnam after the U.S withdraw from TPP.Last but not least,this thesis also studies the influence of TPP on the diplomatic relations between Vietnam,the TPP countries,and ASEAN countries.The economic benefits that TPP brings to Vietnam are self-evident.They can promote Vietnam’s foreign trade development,carry out the opening of more import and export markets.While Vietnam also has to face the challenges of the market management mechanism reform,legal adjustment,the improvement of labor quality,etc.In terms of diplomacy,TPP is not only a way for Vietnam to strengthen cooperation with other countries,but also one of the tools to balance the political and economic influence of the United States and China on this country.But since the new President Donald Trump has announced that the United States has withdrew from the TPP,coupled with Trump’s fickle moves,Vietnam’s foreign policy with the U.S and other countries are also carefully considered.