Critically analyse the impact of the ‘transpacific partnership (TPP) agreement’ on Australia’s
ability to achieve an ecological sustainable society.
Introduction
There exists a complex relationship between trade and environment, which has both
challenges and opportunities. A good example is portrayed by Herman, & Swiss (2014), who in
positive ways, states that trade leads to the development of countries productivity, increase in
counties efficiency, and growth in general. On the other hand, some of the impending danger about
economic growth is like increased use of non-renewable resources that may lead to its exhaustion.
Also, there may be increased pollution, and worst of all lower the quality of water. On the other
hand, trade is essential for the economic development achieved can be used to curb the
environmental degradations Herman, & Swiss (2014). On that note, the primary focus of this
paper will be to criticize the trans-pacific partnership.
The paper will examine the effects that impend the nations that will accept to sign the
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). In particular, it will address the sustainability of a
country in relation to its definition, the impediment to change among other issues Hsueh, (2013).
Thus, the objectives of the paper is to find out the implications of the TPP, to the countries involved.
On the same note, the research question that will act as a blueprint is; what are the impact of the
‘transpacific partnership (TPP) agreement’ on Australia’s ability to achieve an ecological sustainable
society? This question will be the guiding tool in the whole research paper.
Implication of TPP to Australia
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is an exceptionally large free trade agreement, which if
pushed and signed will expand the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Thus, the TPP
will have some adverse effect to not only economic sustainability in Australia, but also
environmental sustainability will be interfered Hsueh, (2013). This is simply because, the TPP will
only replicate and expand the NAFTA’s special methods of protection to the offshore U.S jobs.
Nevertheless, developed countries like Australia will have a wider range of market for their produce
and facilitated about 37.8% increase in their sales. This market will also help in the generation of
income and also will offer cheaper labour and raw material from other countries in this trading
block. Thus, the increased market scope will increase the production and conversely increase the
revenue generated from the trade.
The TPP also has an important opportunity of developing rules that will keenly observe the
conservation of the environment strategies, particularly forests. These rules will reduce the chances
of deforestation in Australia, hence preventing devastating and irreparable effects of deforestation.
This is because in the shipment of timber, logs, and timber product; there will be required
documentation declaring of the price, quantity, and place of origin from the importers Leal-Arcas,
(2013). Through this body, the Australian’s will be able to achieve the environmental sustainability.
In addressing the unsustainable exploitation of fish stock, TPP will put in place some
measures that will strengthen disciplines on fisheries sector Leal-Arcas, (2013). These measures
include the thorough prohibition of some of the forms/modes of fisheries subsidies, which
contribute to overfishing and overcapacity. Leal-Arcas, (2013), also stresses on how the TPP
will have an interest in this issue since it is a mixture of developed and developing countries.
In Australia, where they have effective fisheries management regimes the TPP measures will
be focused on sustainability and conservation. This is because, in Australia they observe and
support strong discipline on fisheries subsidies.
In addressing the climatic change and other environmental challenges, TPP will help
in achieving some of the environmental goals and not to affect its health. The Australian
economy will increase access to and vast range of competing service provider, which is as a
result of market liberalization. Thus, underpinning the shifting/change of the harmful
environmental service industries to less and more efficient, environmentally friendly
industries Meltzer, (2014). Through the TPP Australia will be able to access of green
technologies at a lower cost that will help in reducing some of the environmental problems
like water, air and soil pollution. Furthermore, TPP will support Australia as its member in
reducing the greenhouse gas emission Pejovich, (2012).
Australia participation to the TPP will not only offer access to the green and low-
carbon economy, but also the access to the experts and engineers that will help in designing
and running the facilities. In addition, some of the types of technologies that are being used to
address the environmental degradation and its sustainability are changing with time. Thus,
there is a need for continuous research on finding new ideal methods to curb this mess
Holzer, & Cottier (2015). Through TPP union, the member country can and will be able to
conduct research on this matter, which will be cost efficient since all the member states will
contribute to its funding. Thus, this will point that TPP will need to reduce barriers to services
trade. TPP will thus ensure that countries like Australia get services which will help not only
in reducing the cost and economic development, but also that are environmental friendly
Holzer, & Cottier (2015).
In the recent years, there Australian rate of unemployment has dropped up to about
6.1%, nevertheless, if the TPP is successfully executed these statistics are expected to reduce
significantly. This will be as a result of globalization, which will greatly impact on the
domestic prices of the products, making the prices converge to those in the international
market. This impact will result to changes in relative prices within the Australian economy
affecting some of the returns on different factors of production Thompson, (2015). Merely
because, international trade majorly focuses on the returns to the factors of production base
on the labour skills and the technological advancement. Thus, Australia will greatly enjoy this
due to its developed technologies and skilled labour Thompson, (2015).
On the contrary, some of the effects of this union/agreement will be income inequity in
Australia. Since the labour market wages and salaries will be harmonized in accordance with
international standards. This is because there have been a widening gap in wages between the
skilled and unskilled workers. Nevertheless, some of the technology innovations will be undertaken
so as to suit the needs of the ever growing completion from the trade. This will lead to improvement
in services and products. Eventually, some sectors in Australia will enjoy about 15% of technology
upgrade as a result of completion Petri, et al. (2012).
In the past half a decade, Australia has been a technological shift/ change which has made
some sectors like agriculture flourish. TPP will ensure that there is sustainable mechanical
development that contributed to countries development like Australia experienced in 2009-10. This
is because in that fiscal year it was estimated that Australia produces about £40-billion agricultural
commodities Bell, & Moore (2012). This production does not only help in the sustainability of the
population, but also the development of the economy at large.
Conclusion
In the literature, it can be noted that TPP will greatly integrate the current policies of
different and come up with a masterpiece policy that will liberalize the market and help in the
sustainability. This will greatly help in the change process, economic sustainability and also the
environment at large. Thus, it will be a chance not to be missed by the Australia. Simply because it
will greatly benefit from this free trade market, starting from cheap labour, large market, advanced
skilled workers and technologies among others. Thus, Australia will be able to achieve its aims of
ecologically sustainable society. To sum up all, this means that the research question has been fully
answered, and it is positive to say that there will be more advantages of TPP to Australia than harm.
References
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