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 welcoming Mexico to the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations:
LEVIN: “I welcome Mexico’s participation in TPP. Mexico’s involvement provides an opportunity to both strengthen our overall relationship and correct the NAFTA flaws on labor and environmental standards. In contrast, I oppose Japan’s entry because - prior to joining - there must be concrete results in dismantling non-tariff barriers, including within the auto sector. Given that decades of negotiations and past agreements have failed to open Japan’s closed auto sector, untested commitments cannot be a credible basis for proceeding. With respect to the other proposed new entrants, I urge Canada to expeditiously resolve its outstanding issues so that both our NAFTA partners can participate in TPP."
MCDERMOTT: "I see this as an important step forward. Adding Mexico gives us an opportunity to address the parts of NAFTA that need fixing, like labor and environment. We have extensive, interwoven trade ties with Mexico. Having Mexico be part of the newest and most state-of-the-art free trade arrangement makes a lot of sense."
