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U.S. NEWSWednesday 7 October 2015

Obama Begins Selling Trans-Pacific Partnership

President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with agriculture and business leaders at the tion that’s written into the lion to campaigns during
Agriculture Department in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. Sitting with Obama, from left are, agreement. the 2012 elections. About
Victoria Espinel, CEO The Software Alliance, left, and Bob Stallman Jr., right, president American “Under this agreement, we, 90 percent of that money
Farm Bureau. rather than countries like went toward Democratic
China, are writing the rules candidates, according to
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) for the global economy,” the Center for Responsive
Obama said. Politics. Chris Shelton, presi-
KEVIN FREKING increase exports ranging that means U.S. companies It will be weeks before the dent of the Communica-
Associated Press from meat and poultry to are investing here and are full scope of the agree- tions Workers of America,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ne- grains and cotton. able to sell over there with- ment announced Monday whose members include
gotiations over the com- Obama emphasized that out a disadvantage. That’s is known, but several labor customer service reps and
plex trade deal took more the deal would eliminate or what American leadership groups are worried that it computer technicians, said
than five years. On Tues- reduce more than 18,000 looks like in the 21st centu- will result in American jobs the union will “hold ac-
day, President Barack tariffs that participating ry,” Obama told reporters sent to countries with lower countable those members
Obama began what may countries impose on U.S. at the end of the closed- wages and less stringent of Congress who support
be a similarly difficult task exports. The reduction of door meeting. labor and environmental this giveaway to the 1 per-
— selling the Trans-Pacific those tariffs will lower the Leaders of trade groups standards. A congressional cent.” Among the Demo-
Partnership to Congress price that international con- representing the film, travel vote on the pact is not ex- cratic candidates running
and the American public. sumers pay for U.S. goods. and technology industries pected to occur until well for president, Sen. Bernie
Obama met with business For example, Obama said were among those who into next year, providing Sanders, an independent,
and agricultural leaders at Japan currently puts a 38 attended the meeting the unions with the chance moved quickly to voice his
the Department of Agricul- percent tax on American with Obama and Agricul- to maximize leverage with opposition.
ture. The site of the meet- beef and Malaysia current- ture Secretary Tom Vilsack. lawmakers coveting their “Wall Street and big corpo-
ing reflects the urgency ly puts a 30 percent tax on One of the administration’s support. The president has rations just won a big victo-
that farm groups have American auto parts. selling points is that it will to wait 90 days before sign- ry. Now it’s on us to stop the
attached to the deal to “If the tariffs are down, put pressure on China to ing the pact, and only then #TPP from becoming law,”
remove tariffs and other if the taxes are down on match various safeguards will Congress begin the pro- Sanders tweeted.
trade barriers that would goods made in America, and openness to competi- cess of voting on it. Approv- Another Democratic can-
al of the deal would give didate, former Maryland
Obama a legacy-defining Gov. Martin O’Malley,
victory. To achieve a vic- has been highly critical of
tory, Obama will need help the trade pact in recent
from Republicans and will months.
need to overcome doubts Hillary Rodham Clinton has
from a key Democratic not yet taken a stance on
constituency. In the hours the deal. The full text of the
after the trade deal was agreement is not yet avail-
announced, some union able for public reading.
leaders made clear that a The TPP is designed to en-
candidate’s stance on the courage trade among
Trans-Pacific Partnership the United States, Austra-
will determine whether he lia, Brunei, Canada, Chile,
or she can expect support. Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
While unions have lost polit- New Zealand, Peru, Sin-
ical clout as their numbers gapore and Vietnam. The
have declined, their politi- pact would reduce tariffs
cal action committees do- in the participating nations
nated more than $60 mil- in a bid to open markets.q