Washington, D.C., November 5, 2015 — The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) expressed strong support for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement following the release of the full text of the deal Thursday morning and urged Congress to move quickly to pass the agreement.
“This agreement holds enormous potential for U.S. agriculture and levels the playing field for American workers and businesses in the world's fastest growing economic region, said Barry Carpenter, NAMI President and CEO. “In addition, TPP will strengthen our strategic relationships with trading partners in the critical Asia-Pacific region.”
TPP is a regional trade deal that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for nearly 40 percent of global GDP.
“By facilitating trade and investment, as well as reducing or eliminating tariffs and non-tariff barriers in the new trading block, the deal will enhance our competitiveness and support high-paying American jobs. At the same time, we will be promoting transparency, driving innovation and supporting robust labor standards,” Carpenter added.
The TPP agreement and the economic and trade opportunities it represents also provides a foundation for trade expansion worldwide as it includes the prospect of adding other countries in the future such as Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, all of which have expressed interest in joining the trade bloc.