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 Clinton, who backed the developing trade pact when she was
secretary of state during Obama's first term, said she was worried
the agreement would not do enough to crack down on currency
manipulation or protect consumers from excessively high drug prices.
"The bar here is very high and, based on what I have seen, I don't
believe the agreement has met it," Clinton said in a statement
issued during a campaign swing through Iowa.
"I don’t believe we can afford to keep giving new agreements the
benefit of the doubt. The risks are too high that, despite our best
efforts, they will end up doing more harm than good," Clinton said.
The TPP deal, reached on Monday after marathon talks between the
United States and 11 Pacific Rim nations, aims to liberalize
commerce in 40 percent of the world's economy and would be a
legacy-defining victory for Obama.
Clinton's opposition, however, could help her shore up support from
labor groups and liberal Democrats who oppose the pact out of
concern it will cost manufacturing jobs and weaken environmental
laws.
 It is the latest in a series of moves by Clinton to distance herself
from key administration policies as she tries to hold off a
challenge from the left by Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from
Vermont, and prepare for a possible presidential run by Vice
President Joe Biden.
Clinton's once-commanding lead in polls of Democratic voters has
diminished amid a lingering controversy about her use of a private
e-mail server when she was secretary of state, giving rise to
speculation that Biden could enter the race.
Her announcement on the TPP comes just a week ahead of the first
televised debate of the Democratic presidential contenders.
Obama and Biden have pushed for the trade deal, arguing it would
help the United States increase influence in East Asia and counter
the rise of China, which is not part of the pact.
"The president has been extraordinarily effective in making as
strong a case as could be made, but I do worry we have an equation
here, how do we raise incomes in America?" Clinton said in an
interview with PBS's "Newshour," where she first announced her
opposition to the trade pact.
Clinton has distanced herself from the Obama administration on other
policies recently, announcing opposition to the Keystone XL
pipeline, backing a no-fly zone over Syria and offering plans to
expand and change Obamacare, the president's signature healthcare
reform.
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All of those shifts could help differentiate her from Biden, who if
he enters the race will be in the position of defending the
administration on many of those issues.
Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor group, which opposes
the pact, praised Clinton.
"Her decision is a critical turning point and will be invaluable in
our effort to defeat TPP," Trumka said.
Sanders and fellow Democratic presidential rival Martin O'Malley,
both longstanding critics of the trade pact, also welcomed Clinton's
decision, but noted her shifting position.
"I am delighted that Secretary Clinton is on board," Sanders said
during an appearance at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
"To be very frank with you, it would have been more helpful to have
her on board a few months ago."
O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, said in a statement:
"Secretary Clinton can justify her own reversal of opinion on this,
but I didn't have one opinion eight months ago and switch that
opinion on the eve of debates."
The TPP deal, which must be approved by the U.S. Congress, has faced
skepticism from lawmakers.
A White House official said Clinton gave the administration a
heads-up about her position before the interview.
(Additional reporting by Timothy Ahmann, Alana Wise and Jeff Mason;
Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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