Home/American Shipper/Commentary: The way to strengthen ties with Asia is to pass TPP American Shipper Commentary: The way to strengthen ties with Asia is to pass TPP FreightWaves Staff · Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedInThe economic case for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership is convincing, and in Southeast Asia, the strategic costs of not approving it are high, and rising fast, according to Bloomberg columnists Nisid Hajari and Mary Duenwald.