While TPP has lumbered on, some things have changed.
The global economy has fluctuated. Business models have evolved. Economies have continued to negotiate bilateral agreements. From a New Zealand perspective more of our economic and commercial interests have become focused on China.
Yet, TPP remains fundamentally a good idea. The global economy still needs growth and people still need jobs. Governments have only limited means at their disposal to create both.
Trade rules need to be updated to reflect business realities and the complexity of over-lapping trade agreements needs to be rationalised.
New Zealand has the benefit of a rules-bound framework with Australia, China, ASEAN and Korea but it lacks this with the United States and Japan (and with others including India and the European Union).
New Zealand's sovereignty is enhanced when we have trade rules in place in which we have had a hand in making. The absence of rules leaves us vulnerable and at a disadvantage compared with others who have this sort of framework.
There remain at least three stumbling blocks.
First, the United States President and Congress have yet to agree on the over-riding objectives of US trade policy. The Congressional election and the new US Congress, which has now taken office, may assist the passage of Trade Promotion Authority clarifying a way forward, provided President Barack Obama and the majority Republicans can overcome differences on other issues.
Second, the Japanese Government wishes to continue to protect so-called "sensitive" agricultural products. The Diet election may have strengthened the hand of Prime Minister Abe, but he still faces opposition from within his own party -- in that respect Abe and Obama are in the same position.
Third, there are substantive issues which negotiators have not been able to resolve. Much has been agreed but this does not apply to market access, largely because of the stand-off between the US and Japan, or to other issues -- intellectual property, investment, state-owned enterprises and environment -- on which other participants, including New Zealand, are unlikely to want to conclude until the market access issue is settled.
The conventional thinking is that if Trade Promotion Authority is secured, it will strengthen the hand of the US in seeking a conclusion to TPP. Japan could then be convinced to show greater flexibility in agriculture in anticipation of an agreement, which would boost its productivity in other areas.
This scenario is not impossible, but political will, especially in the US Congress, is hard to predict.
TPP has a growing number of detractors and business is becoming weary of the time that has been taken.
Towards the middle of this year the early jockeying for next year's US Presidential election will get under way.
The political environment could well change once again for TPP and negotiators may need to look to other avenues to achieve its much-needed objectives.
Needless to say, I hope my prediction this year proves as accurate as last year's.
Stephen Jacobi is executive director of the NZ-US Council.
