WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement today at the close of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial round that took place in Singapore:
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations remain an important opportunity to establish a high-standard, comprehensive trade agreement throughout the critically important Asia-Pacific region. For this agreement to reach its full potential to open these vital markets, it is critical that the negotiations achieve real market access and set the highest standards of protection for intellectual property, expands trade in services and allows the free flow of cross-border data.
“I will continue to press the Obama Administration to ensure this agreement meets the highest standards and, if necessary, to conclude negotiations only with those parties ready and willing to meet these standards. Furthermore, trade promotion authority is key to the ultimate success of this agreement. As such, I will continue my efforts to achieve quick congressional consideration and approval of TPA so American farmers, ranchers, businesses and workers can gain access to world markets just as so many of our international competitors do."
