Monterey, CA – U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Congressman Sam Farr (CA-20) toured the Monterey Bay Aquarium to underline the first-of-their-kind and fully-enforceable environmental protections won by U.S. negotiators in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
During the tour, Ambassador Froman and Congressman Farr discussed the many ways the TPP, a centerpiece of the Obama Administration’s economic and foreign policy agenda, will deliver groundbreaking protections for the environment and support high-paying jobs in California, one of the country’s top exporting states. They also outlined how exporting Made-in-America products currently benefits the local economy, as well as how the TPP helps grow economic benefits for California. In 2014, California exported $173.8 billion of American-made goods to the world – the second most of any state in the nation – supporting over 700,000 jobs. 41 percent of those exports went to TPP countries, and once the agreement goes into effect California’s exporters will have much greater access to those markets.
“In addition to cutting over 18,000 taxes that countries in the Asia-Pacific put on the Made-in-America exports that support well-paying California jobs, TPP also delivers unprecedented and fully enforceable environmental protections,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. “I appreciate Congressman Farr's invitation to highlight these economic and environmental benefits in my home state and at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is internationally recognized for its outstanding conservation work.”
"It was an honor for Ambassador Michael Froman and Representative Sam Farr to join us in Monterey today to hear from the aquarium and other stakeholders about the importance of using the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trade agreements to increase global protection of ocean wildlife and ecosystems,” said Monterey Bay Aquarium Vice President of Conservation and Science Margaret Spring. “We are encouraged that the Trans-Pacific Partnership sets a new bar for ocean conservation measures in a trade agreement by including specific provisions to encourage sustainable fisheries management, fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, protect sharks and other key marine species, and eliminate harmful fishing subsidies. To make a measureable difference for the ocean, the United States and its trade partners will need to ensure comprehensive implementation and enforcement of these new and important provisions within each nation. We are keenly interested in speaking more with Ambassador Froman, Representative Farr, and other leaders about how the United States will translate the TPP's aspirations into policy actions that will conserve ocean wildlife and ecosystems."
The TPP is a high-standard trade agreement between 12 countries amounting to nearly 40% of global GDP that will gain Americans unprecedented access to the economies of critical countries across the region. The recently signed agreement will help level the playing field for U.S. workers, farmers, and businesses by cutting over 18,000 different taxes that other countries place on Made-in-America exports. What’s more, the agreement will raise standards throughout the Asia-Pacific in areas ranging from environmental stewardship to protection of fundamental labor rights and keeping the internet free and open.
For a Commerce Department fact sheet on how the TPP will benefit California, please click here.
For a U.S. Trade Representative fact sheet on the TPP’s environmental protections, please click here.
For a White House fact sheet on the TPP please click here.
