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 In remarks prepared for delivery to key congressional committees,
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the administration
looked to lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation allowing a
streamlined approval process for trade deals, such as the 12-nation
Trans-Pacific Partnership.
TPP chief negotiators are meeting in New York this week and some
hope the pact can be wrapped up by mid-March.
“The contours of a final agreement are coming into focus, and we
have made important progress in the market access negotiations and
in addressing a number of twenty-first century issues," Froman said
in his testimony, according to excerpts released by his office in
advance, pointing to intellectual property, digital trade and labor
and environmental rules.
 The White House's plans to seal a trade agreement covering 40
percent of the world economy and fast-track legislation in 2015 face
opposition from some Democrats worried about the impact of trade on
jobs and some conservative Republicans opposed to giving President
Barack Obama more power.
Trade promotion authority allows the White House to submit trade
deals to Congress for a yes-or-no vote, without amendments, in
exchange for setting negotiating goals.
Lobbying is intense on both sides of the argument. Business groups
and unions are bringing business owners to Capitol Hill to brief
lawmakers about their experience with trade and urging
letter-writing campaigns. Senior administration officials are
calling individual lawmakers, aiming to reach out to about 80
Democratic House members.
As part of the public relations blitz, USTR will unveil a new
website, including information on how the TPP will benefit
Americans, at 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT), before the Senate Committee on
Finance hearing starts at 10 a.m. EST.
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Committee chairman Orrin Hatch said TPA would ensure a high-standard
TPP and it would be a "grave mistake" to close the deal before the
bill passed.
"Doing so may lead to doubt as to whether the U.S. could have gotten
a better agreement, ultimately eroding support for TPP and
jeopardizing its prospects for passage," he said in prepared
remarks.
In a bid to tackle concerns about jobs, Froman will tell lawmakers
U.S. exports support a record 11.3 million jobs and export-related
jobs pay up to 18 percent more.
“Our trade agenda is committed to supporting more good jobs,
promoting growth, and strengthening America’s middle class," he
said.
(Reporting by Krista Hughes; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama; Editing by
Chizu Nomiyama)
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