U.S.

Chamber of Commerce

Trans-Pacific Partnership
Thursday, April 16, 2015 - 4:30pm
As U.S. companies scour the globe for consumers, the booming Asia-Pacific region stands out. Over the last
two decades, the region's middle class grew by 2 billion people, and their spending power is greater than
ever. That number is expected to rise by another 1.2 billion by 2020. According to the IMF, the world
economy will grow by $21.6 trillion over the next five years, and nearly half of that growth will be in Asia.
U.S. businesses and workers need better access to those lucrative markets if they're going to share in this
dramatic growth. But U.S. companies are falling behind in the Asia-Pacific. While U.S. exports to the AsiaPacific market steadily increased from 2000 to 2010, America's share of the region's imports declined by
about 43%, according to the think tank Third Way. In fact, excluding China, East Asia in 2014 purchased a
smaller share of U.S. exports in 2014 than it did five years earlier, despite a 54% increase in total U.S.
merchandise exports in that period
One reason U.S. companies have lost market share in the Asia-Pacific region is that many countries
maintain steep barriers against U.S. exports. A typical Southeast Asian country imposes tariffs that are five
times higher than the U.S. average while its duties on agricultural products soar into the triple digits. In
addition, a web of nontariff and regulatory barriers block market access in many countries.
Trade agreements are crafted to overcome these barriers. However, Asia-Pacific nations are clinching trade
deals among themselves that threaten to leave the United States on the outside looking in. The number of
trade accords between Asian countries surged from three in 2000 to more than 50 today. Some 80 more are
in the pipeline. Meanwhile, the United States has just three trade agreements in Asia (with Australia,
Singapore and South Korea).
This challenge is growing: 16 countries are launching expedited negotiations for a trade deal called the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It includes Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea,
and New Zealand as well as the 10 ASEAN countries--but not the United States.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is America's best chance to ensure the United States isn't stuck on the
outside--looking in--as Asia-Pacific nations pursue new trade accords among themselves. Its objective is to
achieve a comprehensive, high-standard, and commercially meaningful trade and investment agreement
with 11 other Asia-Pacific nations, including Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore,
and Vietnam. It also includes Canada, Mexico, Peru, and Chile, thus offering a chance to integrate existing
U.S. trade agreements in the Americas.
The TPP must be a comprehensive agreement. In trade talks, whenever one party excludes a given
commodity or sector from an agreement, others follow suit, limiting its reach. For the United States to
achieve the goal of a true 21st century agreement--with state-of-the-art rules on digital trade, state-owned
enterprises, investment, and other key areas--its negotiators must hold fast to the goal of a comprehensive

accord.
One top U.S. priority is to ensure the TPP protects intellectual property (IP), which plays a vital role in driving
economic growth, jobs and competitiveness. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, IP-intensive
companies account for more than $5 trillion of U.S. GDP, drive 60% of U.S. exports and support 40 million
American jobs. To build on these strengths, the TPP must include robust IP protection and enforcement
provisions that build on the U.S-Korea Free Trade Agreement and provide 12 years of data protection for
biologics consistent with U.S. law.
The TPP also needs to reflect how goods are produced in the 21st century using global value chains. Today,
the goods we buy are usually labeled "Imported" or "Made in the USA"--with no middle ground. However,
companies often rely on global value chains that span the Pacific to hone their competitiveness.
The United States is a principal beneficiary of these supply chains. One recent study found that 70% of the
final retail price of apparel assembled in Asia is created by American innovators, designers, and retailers.
Making customs and border procedures more efficient and enacting other trade facilitation reforms will
remove sand from the gears of global value chains and enhance U.S. competitiveness.
Completing the TPP would pay huge dividends for the United States. The agreement would significantly
improve U.S. companies' access to the Asia-Pacific region, which is projected to import nearly $10 trillion
worth of goods in 2020.A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates the trade
agreement could boost U.S. exports by $124 billion by 2025.
Working closely with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Chamber has led the business
community's advocacy for the inclusion of strong disciplines in the TPP trade agreement on intellectual
property, regulatory coherence, due process in antitrust enforcement, and state-owned enterprises.
The TPP has the potential to strengthen our nation's commercial, strategic, and geopolitical ties across one
of the fastest growing and most influential parts of the world. It would be an economic shot in the arm for
America. And it would send a message to the region and to the world that the United States is not going to
sit on the sidelines. We're going to be in on the action.

Chamber Recommendations
As nations across the Pacific clinch their own trade agreements that exclude the United States, the TPP
represents a vital opportunity to ensure that American exporters have access to the world's most
dynamic economies.
To reach the vision of a "21st century trade agreement," the TPP negotiators must conclude a highstandard agreement that is comprehensive and ambitious.
The TPP negotiations represent an opportunity to establish strong rules to protect intellectual property,
cultivate the digital economy, and combat trade and investment protectionism.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce

TPP Could Create 700,000 New U.S. Jobs

Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 10:45am

The facts are in: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (https://www.uschamber.com/issue-brief/trans-pacific-partnership) has the potential to be a big winner for American
workers, farmers and business owners.
Based on the methodology and outcomes used in the Peterson Institutes study, The Trans-Pacific Partnership and Asia-Pacific Integration: A Quantitative Assessment
(http://www.piie.com/publications/interstitial.cfm?ResearchID=2146), we calculated that the United States will create an additional 700,000 new jobs as a result of the
increase in trade and investment from the TPP agreement. And that growth is spread all across the country; every state will see net gains in employment.
Why? Because outside our borders are markets that represent 73% of the worlds purchasing power, 87% of its economic growth, and 95% of its consumers. When we
negotiate trade agreements, we give our companies and workers the opportunity to compete and succeed on a global scale.
So contrary to what the isolationists are going to tell you the TPP is a job creator.
There is no more important priority in our nation than putting Americans back to work -- so lets get the TPP done.
(Click on the image below to see a larger map and your state's details. And share with your friends via Twitter and Facebook.)

(https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/020753_INTL_TPP_JobsMap_FIN_5100px_1.jpg)
(https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/020753_INTL_TPP_JobsMap_FIN_5100px_1.jpg)

(https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/020753_INTL_TPP_JobsMap_FIN_5100px_1.jpg)
(https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/020753_INTL_TPP_JobsMap_FIN_5100px_1.jpg)

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The Open Door of Trade: The Trans-Pacific

Partnership
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 - 9:00am Written by John G. Murphy (/john-g-murphy)

Eighth in a series
Previously: Trade Agreements and Small Business (https://www.uschamber.com/blog/open-door-trade-

agreements-and-small-business)
What are the benefits of America's free trade agreement (FTAs)? With debate over the renewal of Trade
Promotion Authority (TPA) now underway in Washington, the Chamber is publishing this series of blog posts
examining the benefits of the trade agreements that TPA makes possible. Here is the full report on the
benefits of America's free trade agreements
(https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/open_door_trade_report.pdf).

How can America seize more of the benefits of FTAs? The good news is that the United States is taking part
in several major trade negotiations, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 countries in Asia
and the Americas.
The booming Asia-Pacific region is a logical focus for America's trade negotiators. Over the last two
decades, the region's middle class grew by 2 billion people, and its spending power is greater than ever.
That number is expected to rise by another 1.2 billion by 2020. According to the International Monetary
Fund, the world economy will grow by more than $20 trillion over the next five years, and nearly half of that
growth will be in Asia.
U.S. workers, farmers and businesses need access to those lucrative markets if they are to share in this
dramatic growth. However, U.S. companies are falling behind in the Asia-Pacific. While U.S. exports to the
Asia-Pacific market steadily increased from 2000 to 2010, America's share of the region's imports declined
by about 43%, according to the think tank Third Way. In fact, excluding China, East Asia in 2014 purchased
a smaller share of U.S. exports in 2014 than it did five years earlier, despite a 54% increase in total U.S.
merchandise exports in that period
One reason U.S. companies have lost market share in the Asia-Pacific region is that some countries
maintain steep barriers against U.S. exports. A typical Southeast Asian country imposes tariffs that are five
times higher than the U.S. average while its duties on agricultural products often soar into the triple digits. In
addition, a web of nontariff and regulatory barriers block market access in many countries.
FTAs are crafted to overcome these barriers. However, Asia-Pacific nations are clinching trade deals among
themselves that threaten to leave the United States on the outside looking in. The number of FTAs between
Asian countries surged from three in 2000 to more than 50 today. Some 80 more are in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, the United States has just three trade agreements in Asia (with Australia, Singapore and South
Korea).
This challenge is growing: 16 countries are launching expedited negotiations for a trade deal called the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It includes Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea
and New Zealand -- as well as the 10 ASEAN countries -- but not the United States.
The TPP is America's best chance to secure a level playing field for trade in the Asia-Pacific region. Its
objective is to achieve a comprehensive, high-standard and commercially meaningful trade and investment
agreement with 11 other Asia-Pacific nations, including Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand,
Singapore and Vietnam. It also includes Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile, thus offering a chance to integrate
existing U.S. trade agreements in the Americas.
The TPP must be a comprehensive agreement. Whenever one party in a trade talk excludes a given
commodity or sector from an agreement, others follow suit, limiting its reach. For the United States to
achieve the goal of a true 21st century agreement -- with state-of-the-art rules on digital trade, state-owned
enterprises, investment and other key areas -- its negotiators must hold fast to the goal of a comprehensive
accord.

One top U.S. priority is to ensure the TPP protects intellectual property (IP), which plays a vital role in driving
economic growth, jobs and competitiveness. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, IP-intensive
companies account for more than $5 trillion of U.S. GDP, drive 60% of U.S. exports and support 40 million
American jobs. To build on these strengths, the TPP must include robust IP protection and enforcement
provisions that build on the U.S-Korea Free Trade Agreement and provide 12 years of data protection for
biologics consistent with U.S. law.
Completing the TPP would pay huge dividends for the United States. The agreement would significantly
improve U.S. companies' access to the Asia-Pacific region, which is projected to import nearly $10 trillion
worth of goods in 2020. A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates the trade
agreement could boost U.S. exports by $124 billion by 2025.
The TPP has the potential to strengthen our nation's commercial, strategic and geopolitical ties across one
of the fastest growing and most influential parts of the world. It would be an economic shot in the arm,
boosting growth and jobs across the country.
The principal rationale for FTAs is to unleash new flows of mutually beneficial trade between Americans and
the citizens of our partner nations -- and do so in a way that is fundamentally fair. With regard to the TPP, the
potential benefits are truly significant.
Next time: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

(https://www.uschamber.com/blog/open-door-trade-transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership)

Meet John G. Murphy (/john-g-murphy)

(https://twitter.com/JGodiasMurphy)

@JGodiasMurphy
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How the Trans-Pacific Partnership Just Got Sexier

Friday, November 14, 2014 - 3:00pm Written by Ashley Mergen (/ashley-mergen)

middle eastern spices

This post originally appeared on the U.S. Chamber Global Intellectual Property Center's blog
(http://www.theglobalipcenter.com/how-the-tpp-just-got-sexier/).
I've got news for you, folks. After last week's election- trade just got sexier. Post-election headlines

(http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2014/1105/Obama-GOP-can-now-partneron-one-project-trade-pacts) coalesced around trade policy, dubbing it one of the few areas--if not the
single area-- where we could see bipartisan engagement in the short term:
After this midterm election, a new Republican-led Congress can start to build trust with President
Obama by striking a deal on proposed trade pacts with Asia and Europe. The US needs such
bipartisanship to spur growth and shape global values. [Christian Science Monitor editorial

(http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2014/1105/Obama-GOP-cannow-partner-on-one-project-trade-pacts) 11/5/14]
With the biggest trade agreement in history on the horizon, the new Congress has an extremely rare
opportunity for a political hat-trick with "wins" going to themselves, the administration, and the American
economy.
Interestingly, intellectual property policy is one of the areas that could help sell the agreement here at home.
IP has a strong base of support in Congress, with members on both sides of the aisle understanding that a
strong intellectual property chapter bolsters U.S. competitive advantage in the global economy. If the
American model--where 61% of exports are driven by IP-intensive industries

(http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/reports/documents/ipandtheuseconomyindustriesinfocus.pdf
-serves any indication of the power of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, all twelve current
and future Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) partner nations also stand to gain from a high-standard chapter.
But the pact, is unlikely to come into force until enactment of a new Trade Promotion Authority

(http://www.slideshare.net/uschamber/021807-intl-top10reasonsrobusttradeslidesharefin) (TPA, a.k.a.

"fast-track"), which gives Congress the opportunity to set trade objectives and grants the Executive Branch
the authority necessary to finalize trade agreements in good faith before they go up for a vote in Congress.
Every president since Richard Nixon has been granted trade promotion authority (and subsequently
completed a slew of trade agreements which have opened up markets to U.S. businesses and exports
around the world) - until now.
Fortunately, the tea leaves seem to indicate that TPA is likely to gain support and could move forward in the
114th Congress, despite this year's lack of action:
Mr. Obama hailed the bill in his State of the Union address, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(Nev.), never a fan of fast-track and always wary of offending free-trade critics like organized labor
in an election year, poured cold water on it. The administration sent Mr. Baucus to China as
ambassador, and his replacement as Finance chairman, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), attached little
urgency to the bill. It fizzled amid the general legislative stagnation of a hyper-political season.
Of the bill's three authors, only Mr. Hatch will remain in the new Congress. But the others' absence
should cause no delay; if the bipartisan bill that emerged in January was good enough for
Republicans then, it should still be good enough now. This is a crucial measure that leaders of the
new Congress can and should take off the shelf, pass and send to Mr. Obama for his
signature. [Washington Post editorial (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-new-

congress-should-revive-a-bill-on-fast-track-trade-authority/2014/11/06/e2b4feae-638a-11e4836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html), 11/6/14]
While there is (rightly) some pressure to pass TPA and quickly conclude TPP and - waiting in the wings - the
U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the devil is indeed in the details. Getting
any agreement isn't the goal- it's getting the right one. And setting ambitious, 21st-century standards for
intellectual property protection is essential to getting TPP and TTIP right before they go to Congress for

approval.
With TPP leaders declaring the "end coming into focus (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2014/11/10/trans-pacific-partnership-leaders-statement)" on the margins of APEC meetings in
Beijing, all eyes remain on the unveiling of a comprehensive, forward-leaning agreement that is so hot
Congress will buckle at the knees and the hearts of American business will pitter patter all the way across
the Pacific.

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