Trade Committees Demand USTR, Treasury Improve TPP Consultations

摘要

The four leaders of congressional trade committees are demanding that U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew intensify their outreach to Congress and stakeholders with respect to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to ensure an outcome that meets congressional priorities. In a Sept. 30 letter, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) also warned the two officials against rushing into a deal, saying they would support continuing negotiations beyond this week to ensure a good agreement. The letter said there are many important issues that remain outstanding in the TPP negotiations and that they must be resolved in "close and effective" consultation with members of Congress and stakeholders for a deal to be acceptable. "We expect you to intensify these consultations and coordination immediately," the chairmen and ranking members wrote, in what appeared to be a veiled criticism of the administration's current approach.