Broad support evident in US for TPP

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Support in the United States for rapidly advancing the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement encompasses virtually all US business interests, the Employers and Manufacturers Association notes.

A letter from the US Business Coalition for the TPP has been sent to President Obama to coincide with the Chicago Round of the TPP negotiations which are currently underway. The letter urges him to move forward on the TPP 'decisively and ambitiously' (click here http://www.ema.co.nz/docs/USTPPlettertoPresidentObamaSep2011.pdf).

"The support in the US for advancing the TPP is far more widespread and influential than many kiwis may think," said Bruce Goldsworthy, acting chief executive for the EMA.

"The US Business Coalition for the TPP is a very broad based coalition of companies and other non-partisan interests.

"It includes such US business interests as the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, the National Foreign Trade Council, the US-ASEAN Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce as well as trans national companies IBM, Kraft, General Electric, Pfizer and Xerox.

"The letter sent as the Chicago Round of negotiations on the TPP got underway this week says 'To achieve a growth-producing outcome...TPP countries must open up all sectors of their economy substantially, if not entirely, to the goods, services and investments of the other TPP partners, creating a regional agreement that will simplify trade and reduce complexity.'

"The TPP free trade agreement had its genesis with the P4 FTA that News Zealand negotiated with Singapore, Chile and Brunei and is being developed to include the US, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Peru. Other Asia Pacific nations including Japan are showing keen interest."

Comments: Bruce Goldsworthy

© Scoop Media