Negotiations towards concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement have reportedly reached an endgame phase. The participating countries are now negotiating market access for sensitive agricultural products, even as a wide gulf in positions exists on several rules and regulatory framework issues. Will the TPP countries be able to fi nalise the agreement this year? Will the US Congress ensure smooth passage of the TPP deal? This article examines these questions and the effect the TPP will have on the multilateral trading environment if it is successfully concluded.
