Countries in Asia are eager to reduce their economic dependence upon China. They don't like Beijing's economic model. They would much rather have a region based upon free market principles. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the United States' opportunity to move the region in a free market direction and compete with China. It is much better if the United States takes the lead in writing the economic rules for the 21st century in Asia than if China did. China steals intellectual property. It has state-owned enterprises that get unfair subsidies from the central government and it would not be wise for the Chinese model to expand in Asia. The trade agreement written by China is going to be more detrimental to American interests. If the TPP is not passed, it is just not an economic price that the United States will pay. We will essentially be telling Asia that the United States is not interested in Asia. Asian countries would have no choice but to look to China as a trading partner.