Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Govt must look for TPP alternatives: ALP

Labor MP Jason Clare says the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership under the US president means Australia needs to look at other options.

The Australian government needs to consider alternative trade agreements, now that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead, Labor MP Jason Clare says.

The shadow trade minister addressed the media in Sydney on Saturday after US President Donald Trump's inauguration and an updated White House website informed the world that the long fought-for Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement no longer had US support.

The first two countries to focus on are India, which is still under negotiation, and an agreement with Indonesia, Mr Clare said.

"Trade with Indonesia is massively underdone at the moment," he said.

It was possible the remaining 11 countries signed on to the TPP may wish to enter a trade agreement without the US, but it was unclear how the lack of US support would affect Australia, the Labor MP said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Mr Clare said he had asked the government to give him economic modelling on a TPP-style agreement minus the US, but they hadn't done one yet.

The TPP was across 12 countries and was supported by both major local political parties as an improved pathway for Australian access to trade markets.

"The way that the TPP works is that without the United States, the TPP doesn't come into effect," Mr Clare said.

"That means the TPP is dead and Donald Trump has killed it."

He said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's plan to introduce legislation to the Australian parliament to implement the TPP was now futile.

"Throughout the week Malcolm Turnbull has said that he can convince Donald Trump to change his mind, well now it's clear that he can't," he said.

On behalf of the Labor party, Mr Clare congratulated the new president on his elevation to high office and praised outgoing president Barack Obama for his eight years of service.

A spokesman for Mr Turnbull told AAP the government remained committed to the TPP and its position on it had not changed.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world