TPP will affect Indian exports: Commerce Ministry

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal is a trade agreement among several Pacific Rim countries concerning a variety of matters of economic policy.

Among other things, TPP will seek to lower trade barriers such as tariffs, establish a common framework for intellectual property, enforce standards for labour law and environmental law, and establish an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism.

Historically, TPP is an expansion of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement signed by Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore - that came into effect in 2006.

Beginning in 2008, additional countries joined for a broader agreement, bringing the total number of participating countries to twelve.

Contentious issues like agriculture, intellectual property, and services delayed the negotiations, initially meant for conclusion in 2012.

Opponents in US see the pact as mostly a giveaway to business, encouraging further export of manufacturing jobs to low-wage nations.

The biggest criticism seems to be the secretive negotiations in which governments are seeking to bring in changes that voters have no knowledge about.

Environmentalists and internet privacy advocates too are against certain provisions of the deal, based on documents leaked by Wikileaks.

United States, Japan and 10 other Pacific Rim nations reached final agreement on the 'Trans-Pacific Partnership' deal, touted as the largest regional trade accord in history.

The conclusion of the deal after years of negotiations, was merely "an important first step," said Michael Froman, the US trade representative.

The deal now awaits scrutiny in Congress, which must provide approval, for it to take effect.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the TPP will significantly impact India's exports in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles and chemicals.

She said the TPP's investor-state dispute mechanism will complicate trade procedures in countries that are not part of the TPP.

She added that the External Affairs Ministry would soon conduct a study in the context of TPP to circumvent these challenges.

One of the biggest multinational trade deals, the Trans-Pacific Partnership was signed by trade and commerce ministers from its 12 member nations in New Zealand.

The ceremony in Auckland brought the trade pact, which has been five years in the making, another step towards to becoming a reality.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the SkyCity building in Auckland to voice opposition to the deal.