After more than six years of intensive negotiations, the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries recently reached agreement on a massive trade pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Member nations include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The TPP allows other nations to join by agreeing to its terms, and South Korea has already expressed interest. Notably missing from that list, however, is China. The TPP has both strong supporters and critics, although it is clear that once ratified—if ratified—by all member nations, the pact will have a significant impact on cross-Pacific trade and global politics.

This article was written by Abbey Mansfield Ruby and Cynthia Collins Allner.