TPP Statements and Actions to Date

U.S. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: ACTION TO DATE

On December 14, 2009, the Office of the United States Trade Representative formally notified Congress of the Obama Administration's intent to enter into negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement. This message to Congress followed announcements by the President and by Ambassador Ron Kirk that the United States would engage on the TPP, in close consultation with Congress, to determine how best to move forward on this initiative. This fact sheet details Administration action and statements from the date of the President's original announcement until today's news that the United States intends to negotiate an agreement.

Announcement by President Barack Obama, November 14, 2009

On November 14, 2009, in Tokyo, Japan, President Obama announced that the United States would engage with the Trans-Pacific Partnership:

"The United States will also be engaging with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement."

Statement by Ambassador Ron Kirk - November 14, 2009

That same day in Singapore, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk applauded the President's announcement and detailed key goals for Trans-Pacific Partnership engagement:

"This will be done in close consultation with the United States Congress and with stakeholders at home. We will seek with current and future TPP nations to shape a platform with the scope, coverage, and standards to successfully integrate the Asia-Pacific economies.

"As the Office of the United States Trade Representative approaches this effort, we recognize that American workers, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and service providers face different challenges today than they have in the past. Therefore, further engagement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership gives us the opportunity to address gaps in our current agreements, and to set the standard for 21st-century trade agreements going forward.

"A high-standard regional trade agreement under the TPP could help bring home to the American people the jobs and economic prosperity that are the promise of trade."

Ambassador Kirk began consulting with Congress shortly after the President's announcement in November, briefing the Chairs and Ranking Members of Committees with jurisdictions on trade, including the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees.
In November and December, Deputy United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Barbara Weisel - the lead U.S. negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership - and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Luis Jimenez met with Senate Finance Committee staff, House Ways and Means Committee staff, and House and Senate Agriculture Committee Staff, as well as with the House APEC Caucus, to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In January, USTR will expand regular consultations with congressional committees to include other key panels.

The Administration has also briefed the chairs of trade advisory committees and the advisers representing states. On December 8, Ambassador Kirk and Secretary Solis met with the Labor Advisory Council. Further consultations are planned for early in January 2010. These consultations will help the Administration develop its objectives for TPP negotiations.

Engagement with Trans-Pacific Partnership Members and Regional Partners

In the wake of President Obama's announcement, Barbara Weisel and additional USTR staff met with Trans-Pacific Partnership counterparts from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam to discuss work that would need to be done to prepare for these regional negotiations, to expand participation, and to shape a 21st century trade agreement.