LAHAINA, HI - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today released the following statement following the close of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations this week in Maui:
“It is wise that the Administration did not decide to get a deal done in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations this week, as many key issues remain outstanding, while others remain on the wrong track.
"Critical issues that still must be resolved include securing fair agricultural market access; making sure that Mexico, Vietnam, and Malaysia fundamentally reform their labor laws and practices to live up to basic internationally-recognized labor standards; adopting effective rules against currency manipulation; bringing about real reciprocity and strong rules of origin in auto trade; and ensuring access to affordable medicines. We will also need to closely review the still-classified text to assess the extent to which there has been real and sufficient progress on issues such as the environment and investor-state dispute settlement.
"How these and other issues are resolved will determine whether TPP is worthy of and could gain broad, bipartisan support in Congress. A key test of any agreement is whether it benefits hardworking Americans and our middle class."
