China applies to join Pacific trade pact to boost economic clout

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Reuters

Japan said it would have to determine if China meets the "extremely high standards" of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the world's second-biggest economy formally applied to join.

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China's application to join the free trade agreement in a letter to New Zealand's trade minister, Damien O'Connor, the Chinese ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.

The CPTPP was signed by 11 countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and New Zealand in 2018.

Before that, it was known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and seen as an important economic counterweight to China's regional influence.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-officially-applies-join-cptpp-trade-pact-2021-09-16/

[Scalded Nun]

1. I am sure I am blissfully unaware of all the nuances in that region, but

given the crap China is pulling the the South China sea I would tell them to cease/desist if they want to join the club. I am probably missing something, but given China's aggressiveness I do not think they would make an honorable and valued addition to the pact.

[AZLD4Candidate]

5. The CCP would laugh at you and tell you to butt out of their affairs, while getting angry and

indignant over any perceived slight or criticism of them while also trying to dictate to you how you should do your business, especially as it relates to them.

Case in point: No foreign enterprise can be without Chinese investors (unless you really want to pay, bribe, grease, and run through hoops to open a WOFE. Disney ran into that with Shanghai Disney, as did Coca Cola and Yum Brands), American consuls and ambassadors must have Chinese drivers approved by the Chinese government (and must use Chinese security as the gatekeepers on the phones and at the gate of which have the worst attitudes in the world and believe they have the right to keep you out of your embassy since they are Chinese and the embassy/consulate is in China), and you must adhere to all their propagandist clap-trap (like Taiwan is part of China, the rocks in the Sea of Japan and the entire South China Sea belongs to China, and if you criticize a policy, you must hate China and all Chinese people).

You must understand that in dealing with the Chinese government and the CCP, you must deal with them on the level of a spoiled, petulant, narcissistic playground bully with no remorse or regard that will justify, excuse, or ignore anything wrong it does, but will cry if you do anything to them.

[AZLD4Candidate]

2. According to my wife, China is near bankruptcy. Most government employees aren't getting paid

and construction/new home sales are at a standstill.

They are also in massive debt due to putting all infrastructure projects (including massive money sponge face-projects like the Shanghai Maglev that has hemorrhaged money from the start) on a high interest credit card.

[WA-03 Democrat]

3. I lived and still work via Telephone in China

I’m seeing surging demand, air shipments this summer go from days, to weeks to a month via DHL just before Autumn Festival. Try booking 300 kg air out of GD now. The air booking is a month out. The air freight is getting backed up because there are 53 container ships from China waiting in the Port of Angles to be unloaded-this is the highest line of ships waiting to be unloaded ever. China is getting a ton of orders and with every order, product costs are increasing and shipping costs are exploding up.

I have no China government knowledge but from the electronics end, it’s a seller’s market without a doubt.

[AZLD4Candidate]

4. My father-in-law works for a state run business.

Architect for apartment complexes. His words being close to the vice presidents of the company and meetings with "government brass."

My wife just told me last night.

[Devil Child]

6. Any move which limits China's "economic clout" is the best option at this point

Exclude them, let the CCP collapse.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

7. I recall a time,

when Former President Obama wanted to do TPP, in order to establish us at the table of open trade in the Pacific. It was meant to help contain China's growing influence. I also recal the Senate rejecting it. Senators Warren, and Sanders especially stand out in my mind.

We were very blessed to have him for a President. It is shame he didn't have the Congress and Supreme Court he deserved his whole term. We would be lightyears ahead today if he had.