Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton are both against it.
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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.
“A “lame duck” Congress should not vote on an agreement of this outcome – it would be an end-run around the American people immediately following an election”, the members wrote.
“We are near the finish line, and we hope that the countries, particularly the USA will be able to ratify the TPP as soon as possible”, he said.
“I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers, or that diminishes our freedom and independence”, he said.
“I am a strong supporter of TPP because it will reduce tariffs, taxes basically, on American goods, from cars to crops, and make it easier for Americans to export into the fastest- growing markets of the world”.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has called prospects for a vote this year “bleak”, especially now that Clinton’s vice presidential running mate Senator Tim Kaine also opposes the agreement.
At the Republican National Convention more than a week ago, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reiterated his opposition to the TPP, saying that the TPP would “destroy” US manufacturing and he promised to never sign massive trade deals again. We have to trade with the other 95 percent. “We’ re not about renegotiation. We’ re interested in a new approach”.
President Barack Obama, right, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, talk after toasting each other during a state dinner, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at the White House in Washington.
“It won’t just be a political symbol or a political football”, Obama told a White House news conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lee during a state visit.
Lee described America as a longtime stabilizing influence in the Asia-Pacific, and said it has put its reputation on the line over TPP. “It is the big thing which America is doing in the Asia-Pacific with the Obama administration consistently over many, many years of hard work and pushing”, Lee said.
“If at the end waiting at the altar the bride doesn’t arrive, I think there are people who are going to be very hurt – not just emotionally but really damaged”.
The TPP, which counts Singapore and the United States among its signatories, along with countries such as Japan, Mexico and Vietnam, faces a tough fight in Congress.
Obama said the deal would also create enforceable labor and environmental rules, enabling countries party to the agreement to better police undesirable activities such as human trafficking, wildlife poaching, illegal fishing, child labor and deforestation.
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Democratic Senator Chris Coons said that “TPP is dead” for the rest of this Congress and this administration, and the next administration will have to work hard to shore up USA relations in the Asia-Pacific region.
