And the former community organizer is pushing it hard.
NYT reports:
His successor, whether Democrat or Republican, opposes it, as does most of his party. Delegates at the Democratic National Convention waved signs saying “T.P.P.” slashed by a bold line, while the Republican Party platform opposed any vote on it in Congress this year.Always, always, be suspicious when former military men and union groups form an alliance to promote anything. They are both big government opportunists.
Yet President Obama is readying one final push for approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest regional trade agreement ever, between the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim nations. And though the odds may be long, a presidency defined by partisan stalemate may yet secure one last legacy — only because of Mr. Obama’s delicate alliance with the Republicans who control Congress...
Among those who will hit the road [to promote TPP] will be Secretary of State John F. Kerry; Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter; retired Admiral Michael G. Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Obama; Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of the United States Pacific Command; and William Cohen, a former Republican senator and defense secretary under President Bill Clinton....
The Business Roundtable, an association representing the chief executives of some of the largest American companies, has held events in more than 120 congressional districts during lawmakers’ summer recess.
Last week, with families making back-to-school purchases, the lobbying association for footwear companies circulated a report concluding that Americans could save $4 billion on children’s shoes if T.P.P. takes effect and cuts tariffs on imports from Vietnam and elsewhere.
Environmental and labor groups have been active, too, holding “Rock against the T.P.P.” concerts in several cities and flying protest blimps outside lawmakers’ offices.
-RW
You post this, and you're upset that Americans have become suspicious of free trade agreements?
ReplyDeleteIf they are sending the Generals in to promote the TPP, does it mean that the TPP also has some Military Alliance quality to it? Possibly countering China (especially with Vietnam and Malaysia being signatories)?
ReplyDeleteYou write: "Always, always, be suspicious when former military men and union groups form an alliance to promote anything. They are both big government opportunists."
ReplyDeleteBut the way I read the excerpt, these groups -- the article refers to "labor" rather "union groups" -- are on opposite sides of this (complex) issue.