In the above video, published on July 16, 2012, Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch division for nearly 20 years, an expert on the operations and outcomes of trade policies like NAFTA and the WTO, leads her organization’s efforts to reveal the truth behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership. She is also the author of numerous articles and books – including her most recent book Whose Trade Organization? What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership – a so-called free-trade deal that the US is close to signing? What are the specifics of the deal – and just how much harm is it going to do to you and me?

It is becoming extraordinarily rare to enter into any debate or discussion on international affairs without someone mentioning the gerund «pivoting» and the talisman geographic area, Asia, as a demostration of realism, good policy or wisdom in the foreign policy of states and/or regions.

Carl  Meacham, in his article for CSIS on March 4, 2013 on the opening of the 16th round of  negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Singapore, offered some lights on how this fashionable trend has caught Latin America’s attention.

For the Americas, this round of negotiations represents continuing efforts to expand commerce outside the Western Hemisphere for countries involved in the negotiations. Chile, an original member of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPSEP or P4), the precursor to the TPP, has long been recognized for its efforts to expand trade globally.

Since then, and especially once the United States announced its goal of joining in 2008, interest in participating has risen throughout the region as booming trade between the two regions has necessitated a more strategic and comprehensive outlook.

Although the TPP negotiations have received considerable attention, much of it has been focused on the participation of the United States and the interest of the Asian “giants,” particularly Japan and South Korea. Lost amid the hoopla has been the growing presence of Latin American nations in negotiations. Many of them have economies that already have considerable ties in the Asia-Pacific, including a bevy of free trade agreements.

Continue reading if you want anwers to the following questions:

Q1: Who is involved?

Q2: What does the TPP encompass?

Q3: Why are Latin American nations turning to Asia

Q4: What is the Outlook for Latin America’s Participation in the TP?