With reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements:
1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: While China and Russia were not part of the TPP negotiations, it wasn't solely focused on Pacific Rim countries. Other economies like Vietnam and Singapore were part of the TPP despite not exactly being on the Pacific Rim. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The TPP was a proposed trade agreement, not a strategic alliance for maritime security. It aimed to reduce trade barriers and promote economic integration among member countries. The TPP negotiations were concluded in 2015, but the agreement was never ratified by all the signatories. The United States withdrew from the TPP in 2017, effectively ending the initiative in its original form. However, some member countries pursued alternative trade agreements based on the TPP framework. Hence, option D is the correct answer.