Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s Asian tour, SMU School of Social Sciences Associate Dean (External Relations) and Associate Professor of Political Science John Donaldson predicted that, with two years left in his term, President Obama will focus on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as one of the few realistic deliverables. Associate Prof Donaldson was of the opinion that most items on President Obama’s domestic agenda will be non-starters in the US Congress, but with the Republicans now firmly in control, freer trade is something he might be able to get some consensus on. Associate Prof Donaldson also shared his expectations of President Obama at the APEC and G20 summits.