Michael Froman played a major role in one of the biggest what-ifs in U.S.-China economic relations. As U.S. Trade Representative during the Obama administration, he negotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade deal of 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which was at the heart of that administration’s China policy. TPP was designed to create a powerful bloc of nations who would trade tariff-free and agree to common standards governing state-owned enterprises, services and other 21st century economic issues. Initially, the deal would exclude China. But — in theory at least — China could enter if it agreed to TPP’s high standards. But TPP wasn’t concluded until late in the administration and Congress never voted on it. As president, Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal, while other nations ratified what is now called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Prior to his USTR role, Froman was a senior internat