WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell issued the following statement today regarding the Trans Pacific Partnership:
“Reaching agreement between the United States and 11 other countries on the Trans Pacific Partnership is a historic accomplishment, not only for trade among nations, but in helping to ensure that environmental laws are upheld and illegal trade in endangered species is curtailed. This is a victory for our shared planet and brings a powerful economic tool to bear – trade with the United States and other nations – in providing protections for workers, wildlife and the environment.
“The TPP holds important tools to move trading partners toward more sustainable development – helping to protect precious natural resources and combat wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It also includes commitments to conserve species like rhinos, elephants and pangolins and protect natural areas and forests.
“Today's agreement demonstrates that we can successfully pursue trade and economic development while enhancing protections for the one world that we share. And if we in the United States want to have a chance of passing on that world to our children and grandchildren where they can see magnificent species roaming in the wild and not just in the history books, then we should speedily bring this agreement into force and make it the baseline standard for doing business with the United States.”
Source: Department of Interior
