USTR Says TPP "Outline" on Track for Nov 2011, TPA not yet Needed
During an October 14, 2011 international trade event, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Marantis provided an update on progress in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.1 He discussed the negotiators’ short-term goals, outlined some of the more unique aspects of the agreement, mentioned the prospects of other countries joining the TPP, and discussed the Administration’s stance on Trade Promotion Authority.
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On Track for Reaching Broad Outline by Nov, but Hard Work Remains
Deputy USTR Marantis said that U.S. negotiators will travel to Lima, Peru, the week of October 17 for the ninth round of talks. He says that the negotiators are “on track” to achieve their goal of reaching the broad outlines of a TPP agreement by the APEC Leaders’ November meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. However, the U.S. and its partners are engaged in complex negotiations, and there is more hard work ahead. (See ITT’s Online Archives 11091216 for summary of USTR stating that TPP negotiators hoped to achieve the broad outline of an agreement by November.)
U.S. to Table Text on State-Owned Enterprises Next, Has Tabled 20 Texts so Far
Marantis stated that the U.S. has tabled text in more than twenty negotiating groups, including market access, financial services, intellectual property rights, government procurement, investment, and environment. During the next round, the U.S. plans to table text regarding State-Owned Enterprises, which is a new topic area for FTA negotiations. For the first time in any trade agreement, the U.S. also tabled regulatory coherence text.
Environmental Chapter May Address Illegal Trade in Wildlife, Logging, Fisheries
According to Marantis, the environmental chapter of TPP tabled by the U.S. is innovative in that it would include new obligations to address illegal trade in fisheries, wildlife, and logging. He noted that the U.S. is still in consultation with stakeholders on labor issues.
Looking at Indigenous Innovation, Access to Medicine, Cross-Border Data Flows
He adds that negotiators are looking for new and innovative approaches in a range of other areas as well. For example, they are looking at treatment of cross-border data flows as a trade issue, and the increasingly common problem of “indigenous innovation” measures that force investors to favor another country’s domestic technology.
TPP negotiators are also discussing access to medicine, trying to balance the need to protect intellectual property rights with giving developing economies greater access to affordable medicine. In addition, they are discussing cross-cutting horizontal issues like regional production and supply chains, development, and small- and medium-sized businesses.
Japan, Philippines, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan All Following the Negotiations
Though he said the decision to join the TPP was up to each country, the U.S. is aware that Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Mexico, and Canada are all following the negotiations closely. He also noted that the TPP was designed as a platform agreement that other countries could easily join.
(Current negotiating members include the U.S., Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.)
Says Trade Promotion Authority not Necessary for Now
When asked when or if the Administration would seek Trade Promotion Authority for the TPP, Marantis stated that USTR’s consultations with Congress on the TPP have been so “exhaustive,” that the Administration does not feel that TPA is necessary right now or that not having it hinders the U.S. in the negotiations in any way.
He added, however, that the recent passage of the three FTAs with Colombia, Panama, and Korea as well as GSP and other trade successes have certainly buoyed the trade agenda and improved U.S. negotiating power.
1In September 2008, the Bush Administration and Trade Ministers from Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam announced the launch of negotiations for the U.S. to join the TPP. TPP membership has consisted of Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, but negotiations have been expanded to include the U.S. and the other countries.