Ministers from the 11 Pacific Rim countries and the United States participating in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) are in Atlanta this week with the potential of finalizing the trade pact, which has been under negotiations now for more than five years. Talks this week follow a July meeting in Hawaii and a vote earlier this year to approve Trade Promotion Authority, which is integral to successful congressional approval of TPP.
Some of the sticking points remain in the agricultural sector–meat/poultry, dairy, rice, and sugar. Dairy issues are particularly problematic now as U.S. dairy producers have serious concerns about a possible deal that would give more access to New Zealand but not adequately open Canada’s market. Automotive rules-of-origin between the United States, Japan, Canada, and Mexico are also still being discussed.
U.S. trade officials are reportedly optimistic but they are making it clear that the United States will not rush the TPP deal. “The president has made clear that he will only accept a TPP agreement that delivers for middle-class families, supports American jobs, and furthers our national security,” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement to POLITICO earlier this week. “The substance of the negotiations will drive the timeline for completion, not the other way around.”
Meanwhile, Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb said “Notwithstanding the difficult issues, a conclusion remains within imminent reach.” “There are unresolved issues, but hopefully, those aren’t intractable,” Robb added, who described the deal as about 90 percent complete.
Today, the trade ministers extended talks on the trade deal until Saturday (Oct. 3) in a bid to get a final agreement.
