WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA) today issued the following statements on the announcement made by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Reps. Levin and McDermott are at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu
LEVIN: “Japan's announcement of interest in joining the ongoing TPP negotiations raises a number of serious, longstanding concerns that must be addressed because Japan has long rigorously closed its huge markets to a wide variety of U.S. goods and services, with injurious consequences to our businesses and workers.
“I have worked with every Administration to change one-way to two-way trade with Japan in vital sectors, from industrial goods to agriculture and insurance. Every previous Administration has basically failed. Given this history, it is vital that the Obama Administration take this opportunity to engage Japan in the frankest discussions to see if TPP - unlike all previous fora - represents the opportunity to determine and assure that Japan is willing to make the fundamental structural economic changes necessary to allow other nations to really compete in key areas. It must mean real market opening, not rhetorical changes.
“We owe this to our companies and workers who have been long shut out of this major market. Congress must be consulted at every point from this day, before a formal U.S. decision is made on whether to support Japan's entry into TPP, which would dramatically change the ongoing trade negotiations within TPP."
MCDERMOTT: "With TPP, the Obama Administration has the opportunity both to open new markets for American businesses, farmers and workers, and to positively influence the rules which will govern trade in a growing, dynamic region for the foreseeable future. My views on Japan's participation will be guided by whether it enhances or diminishes those opportunities. I urge the Administration to use this period to test Japan's commitment to a changed course on trade, including whether Japan is prepared to address longstanding barriers both through immediate actions now and by assuming high standard agreement obligations later."
