But he also repeated his belief that the NATO-led bombing that drove dictator Moammar Gadhafi from power was necessary to prevent massacres.
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Obama turned to Republican leaders in his speech, asking them to take a stand against Trump.
“People lost jobs. Jobs were created because of those trade deals, but jobs were also lost”.
At a news conference Tuesday, Obama noted that many leading Republicans in Congress have denounced various Trump statements.
“If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?”
Obama said he knew the politics of the deal were hard but that he remained optimistic he could make his case after the election.
Until they do, he said, their efforts to distance themselves from the NY billionaire “ring hollow”.
Obama acknowledged problems with trade deals that had cost some jobs while adding others, but said “the answer is not cutting off globalization”, and promised his TPP deal addressed numerous concerns of past deals. The White House has objected to such provisions because trade pacts are not typically used to set monetary policy and other countries could try to use the TPP to influence decisions by the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve.
Obama told reporters that some past US trade deals had not delivered on all the benefits that were promised and had very localized costs, but the USA should cut off globalization.
The House narrowly approved the fast-track trade bill past year by a vote of 218-208, meaning that the six GOP members who signed the letter could wield significant power unless the Obama administration can find new supporters.
Lee is urging Congress to ratify the deal as soon as possible.
Obama also reaffirmed his commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, saying that if USA were to “pull up the drawbridge” on trade it would hurt American workers.
Lee said he first met Obama in 2007 and was struck by the then-presidential candidate’s focus and interest in Asia.
The state dinner for Lee was the first held for a Singaporean leader since October 1985, when Ronald Reagan hosted Lee’s father, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The allies share close economic and security ties, with more than 3,500 USA companies having a presence in Singapore. “But you know, there have been Republican presidents with whom I disagreed with, but I didn’t have a doubt that they could function as president”. “Asia is at peace, though tensions are not entirely absent”. The White House is banking on Clinton reversing herself once again if elected and supporting the deal, perhaps by pointing to fixes she can say have addressed her concerns. Singapore was the first southeast Asian nation to join the coalition against the Islamic State.
“We know this has been politically hard, it’s a very tough election year, American people are wary of USA global engagement”. Hundreds of US military members in blue and white uniforms formed an honor guard, some carrying bayoneted rifles. The visit affirms the close relationship between the two countries and it concurs the 50th anniversaries of the diplomatic relations.
Obama reserved the 12th state dinner of his presidency to honor Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife, Ho Ching.
And an account of Singaporeans, Eugenency, who live in the U.S. posted the invitation card sent to those who will be at the state dinner.
Singapore, a city state of 5.7 million people, is heavily dependent on worldwide trade for its prosperity.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership would also encompass 40 percent of the world market.
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Speaking at a news conference with the prime minister of Singapore – one of 12 countries in TPP – Obama confirmed what most in Washington had long suspected: that he’s given up on getting the deal passed during the harried campaign season but is holding out hope for a vote in the lame-duck period between Election Day and the next president’s inauguration.
