Takai Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership

Statement

Today, Congressman Mark Takai (HI-01) discussed the announcement of a Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade (TPP) agreement. After Congress voted to grant the president Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) in July 2015, the agreement is now expected to make its way to Capitol Hill for an "up or down vote" on the entire package. Takai voted against TPA.

"I laud President Obama's pivot toward Asia as part of our country's larger international strategy, as well as his commitment to making sure America remains competitive in the changing global economy. However, it is important that any multinational trade deal translates to jobs here at home and has mechanisms in place to raise labor, food safety, civil rights, environmental, and various other standards in the participating countries. I look forward to reviewing the agreement in its entirety, and hearing from stakeholders, constituents, and my colleagues," Takai said.

The full text of the deal, which is comprised of 30 chapters, will most likely be publicly available next month. In granting the president TPA, Congress stipulated he would have to notify them of the accord's completion 90 days before he intends to sign it, which is not unlike processes for similar agreements. A new requirement is that the deal must be made public for 60 days before the president sends it to Congress, which cannot begin consideration on the agreement for another 30 days after that.

"If done right, trade agreements have the potential to increase access to foreign markets, but we must first see the text to determine the outcome of many different issues, including rules of origin, environmental standards enforcement, and agricultural market access. Congress must prevent repeating the past mistakes of failed trade policies that have contributed to stagnating wages and increasing inequality. Our role now is as important as ever," Takai concluded.

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