medcom.id, Jakarta: The United States (US) President Barack Obama during US-ASEAN Summmit at Rancho Mirage, California last week announced the estabishment of US-ASEAN trade workshop to help ASEAN countries understand the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
"We've launched new effort to help all ASEAN countries understand key elements of TPP, as well as the reforms that could eventually lead to them joining" mentioned Obama in a press conference at Rancho Mirage, February 16.
Four ASEAN countries have joined the TPP namely Singapore, Malaysia, Vetnam and Brunei. The US Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian stated her country welcomes other ASEAN countries to also be part of the trade agreement.
"It is by our country meant to be an open agreement that others can join when ready," she said in a telephonic media briefing, Jakarta, Wednesday (2/24/2016).
Hachigian explained ASEAN countries can receive detail explanation about specific chapter of the TPP in the workshop. "They will respond request for more information about any particular chapter," she continued.
"We will be gathering those suggestions in the coming weeks and then to implement program of workshop," she added.
Besides the four ASEAN countries that have signed the TPP, other ASEAN members have conveyed their interest to participate.
The Philippines President Benino Aquino announced his country intends to join the TPP On the sidelines of APEC Summit in Manila last October. Few weeks later, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made similar statement during his visit to the US.
Jokowi's statement however created debate as many observers pointed out that Indonesia needs massive reforms to be ready for TPP. Jokowi then backtracked and said Indonesia needs at least two or three years before it is ready to join the economic agreement.
Hachigian did not mention timeline for the workshop. "But I imagine they will continue for a number of years," she said.
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