US Already Has FTAs with 6 TPP Countries

U.S. trade with our free trade agreement (FTA) partner countries supports more than 17.7 million American jobs and billions of dollars in U.S. exports.

The United States has routinely increased exports to FTA partners following implementation of the agreements with those countries.

The United States exported more than $739 billion in goods and services to six Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries that are already FTA partners — Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Singapore.

For more information on the value of trade and the TPP to the WA economy, click HERE.

Business and Agricultural Groups Welcome Release Of TPP Agreement Text

US Trade Representative (USTR) released the full text and chapter summaries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement early this morning. You can find it all on the USTR website, as well as on Medium, here.

 “We welcome the public release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership text and commend the Administration for having done so as quickly as possible,” said David Thomas, President of the Trade Benefits America Coalition. “A well-crafted TPP has significant potential to expand U.S. trade opportunities with some of the world's fastest growing markets – to the benefit of American businesses, farmers, and workers. We look forward to examining the agreement closely and continuing to work with the Administration and Congress as the TPP process moves forward."

TPP has the potential to reduce tariffs on 18K U.S. goods. We look forward to seeing how the TPP can help farmers, ranchers, and small businesses across the country. Trans-Pacific Partnership fact sheets, issue briefs, and chapter summaries can be found here, via http://bit.ly/1kcq7ma #TPP

US House Passed TPA!

UPDATE:  6-16-2015
Today, the House of Representatives voted (236-189) to give Congress until the end of July to hold another vote on TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance), a worker retraining program tied to the passage of TPA. 

As lawmakers continue to develop the procedural and legislative strategy to send TPA to the President's desk, our thanks to Pierce County's Members of Congress Reps. Dave Reichert and Derek Kilmer who voted for this bill. (Remember also Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell who voted in favor of TPA.)

ORIGINAL:
The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, "fast track) by a vote of 219-211.  .  Hurrah!

However, the TPA legislation cannot move forward because the House failed to also pass Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which was a requirement of the rule governing the House debate.

There are a number of options for moving forward currently being weighed by House leadership.

These include voting to reconsider the TAA bill next week, or voting on separate TPA legislation in the House and Senate. Immediately after the House voted in favor of TPA, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) made a motion to reconsider the TAA part of H.R. 1314. A vote on that motion will take place June 15 or 16.

For now, we will be thanking those Members who voted in favor of TPA, and we encourage you to also reach out and thank your Representative for his or her support. 

• To see a full list of yeas and nays for TAA.
• To see a full list of yeas and nays for TPA. 

Please let us know if you have any questions.  Otherwise, we hope you have a great weekend!

FINAL SUPPORT ACTION NEEDED FOR TPA NOW

(Click on Image for a LARGER View)

US Chamber Set TPA as Key Vote

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is identifying TPA as a "key vote," (for purposes of evaluating Congressional members support of business issues:

Chamber Joins Concerns & Seeking Help

The Chamber joined numerous other organizations and companies encouraging help in ensuring the present interruptions in West Coast port terminal operations does not escalate to a complete shutdown.

Following below, please find the letter from Washington state & Pacific NW employers to President Obama, expressing our deep concerns.

 (Click on image for a larger and complete view)