Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced that the United States will join Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei in the negotiation of a "Comprehensive Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement." Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over international trade, made the following comment on today’s announcement.
"Today’s announcement is good news. It’s in our national interest to strengthen our economic relations with the Trans-Pacific region. Negotiation of this agreement will help further that effort. And it may pave the way to a broader regional trade agreement in the future. If we want to have any influence over that process, we need to get involved. We can’t advance our economic interests if we’re not at the table.
"The same goes for our pending trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama. Congress needs to do its job and vote on these agreements. We need to show our trading partners that our word is good. And we shouldn’t turn our backs on new opportunities for U.S. exporters. Delaying action on these important agreements only serves to undermine our national economic and security interests. While time may be short, I will continue to make the case for action in Congress this year."