TPP, TTIP and RCEP

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) could be the biggest trade deals in history. As the European Union (EU), the United States (US) and RCEP countries are the biggest trading partner of all South Asian countries, such preferential tariff arrangements could lead to a significant erosion of preferences enjoyed currently by the South Asian countries. Against this backdrop, the main objective of the present study is to investigate the potential economic impacts of tariff eliminations under TPP, TTIP and RCEP on South Asian countries using a standard computable general equilibrium model. The analysis evinces that under complete integration, in terms of tariff elimination, under these three mega deals, the excluded South Asian countries could face a tremendous negative impact on their economies. The analysis also suggests that South Asia may consider joining the TPP to minimize the negative economic impact due to arise from these mega deals.TPP; TTIP; RCEP; South Asia; GTAP; CG