The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Suddenly a 'Game Changer'

This article argues that the entry of Canada, Mexico and most importantly Japan has dramatically shifted the prospects and potential impact of the TPP. More specifically, the article offers four reasons why the entry of Canada, Mexico and Japan has transformed the TPP from a potentially failed agreement of limited economic significance and great geopolitical risk to a ‘game changer’ for the region and beyond. The article also recognizes that while the entry of Canada, Mexico and Japan has transformed the TPP negotiations, their entry comes with some potentially serious risks. The article discusses three specific risks the new entrants bring to the negotiations.