A coalition of over 200 U.S. business and agricultural associations and companies are calling on Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) during the lame duck session of Congress this year. In a letter to the House and Senate leaders, the Trade Benefits American coalition say “Congressional action on TPA is needed to help ensure high-standard outcomes in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which the United States and 11 Asia-Pacific countries are striving to complete.”
The coalition reminds Congress of the importance of TPA to other trade negotiations that are taking place. “By passing TPA, Congress will also help ensure strong outcomes in the other ongoing talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the Trade in Services Agreement, and an agreement to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods.” The concern is whether TPA countries will not put their best offers on the table. The TPA expired in 2007.
