U.S. Trade Rep. Froman on TPP: ‘Looking Forward’ to ‘Explaining What’s in the Deal’
The United State's trade representative, Michael Froman, announced today the U.S. and 11 other nations have reached a final agreement on the Trans Pacific Partnership. The president's TPP point man said the administration is "very much looking forward" to letting Congress see "what's in the deal":
FROMAN: “We have come to an agreement that will support jobs, drive sustainable growth, foster inclusive development and promote innovation across the Asia Pacific region. Most importantly, the agreement achieves the goal we set forth of an ambitious, comprehensive, high standard and balanced agreement that will benefit our nation’s citizens. TPP brings higher standards to nearly 40 percent of the global economy. In addition to liberalizing trade and investment between us, the agreement addresses the challenges our stakeholders face in the 21st century, all taking into account the diversity of our levels of development. We expect this historic agreement to promote economic growth, support higher paying jobs, enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness, raise living standards, reduce poverty in our countries and to promote transparency, good governance and strong labor and environmental protections. (...)
REPORTER: “Already this morning we’ve received statements from Bernie Sanders and Senator Orrin Hatch who of course supported the Fast Track Authority for the president to pursue this deal, who have criticized already the deal that you’ve just announced. Senator Hatch called it willfully inadequate. Are you concerned about the current political climate heading into an election year in the United States will shed support that you’ve built up in the spring for this deal? How do you expect President Obama to get out and sell this deal to the American people?”
FROMAN: “Today represents an important first step in this process, reaching an agreement on a deal. And now we work very closely—building on the consultations we’ve had with Congress over the last several years, and intensively over the last couple of years to explain what’s in the deal, to go through the details of it, and we’re very much looking forward to that.
REPORTER: “Just back to the issue of Congress, you said this is the 2016 issue for Congress. Given the presidential politics, can you talk a little bit more about timing and how certain you are that you can actually get this through Congress next year and before the administration leaves office?”
FROMAN: “Under TPA, as you know, there will be at least 90 days before the agreement is signed and that will take us into 2016. And in terms of the precise timing of the — dealing with TPP by the Congress, that’s something that we work very closely with leadership in Congress to determine what the best pathway is forward. We’re looking forward to continuing that engagement as we have over the last several months as soon as we get back to Washington this afternoon to start those briefings about what’s been in the agreement and to consult with the leadership about next steps.”
