"Never give up, never surrender!" - TPP and President Obama

[yallerdawg]

Remarkably, the president continued to work for the trade agreements he firmly believes we need, even when it all fell apart a short while ago, and now, back from the grave, a final agreement is to be presented before all 12 member nations for their individual approval.

TPA finalized the rules for us. TPP will be published online for our review and a lengthy process of approval or rejection will begin.

Let's hope our fellow Democrats will read it when it is published, and give it more than a Republican 5 minutes online before condemning it (like the Iran nuclear agreement we all support).

Yeah, right.

Here we go!!!!

https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy/trade

America’s trade policy may seem remote and technical, but it has a significant impact on the strength of our economy and the lives of millions of Americans. If the businesses you buy from everyday also sell their products to customers abroad, they are more likely to expand and support jobs here at home.

Why is that? Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside our borders. Our Made-in-America products and services are in demand, making American exports a vital pillar of our 21st century economy. In fact, exports played an indispensable role in America’s resurgence from the Great Recession. So, when the rules are fair, Americans can out-compete anyone in the world.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. I find this to be six of one, half dozen of the other situation.

I honestly see both sides of the TPP. Totally torn.

[yallerdawg]

2. We can't fight the future.

We have to make the best of a changing world of globalization, technology, computerization, robotics, automation and, of course, ongoing capitalism and associated worker exploitation.

We can ride the wave, or drown in it.

Obama has a plan. For America.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

3. I rely on Obama on this. This was the "Change" part for me.

Too few care about American Labor and the underclass. I not only rely, but will hold him responsible for the upside and the downside of this legislation.

[yallerdawg]

4. The White House team says it best...

Last year, we broke the record in American exports for the fifth year in a row, selling $2.34 trillion in goods and services abroad. And here’s why that’s important: The more we sell abroad, the more higher-paying jobs we support here at home.

And those jobs tend to pay Americans better, meaning companies that export pay up to 18% more than companies that don’t.

But right now, our current trade policy — the status quo — puts our workers and businesses at a disadvantage, with higher costs for American goods, more barriers to trade, and lower standards for workers and the environment abroad than we have at home.

That is why President Obama has concluded negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership and will now work with Congress to secure its passage into law. The TPP is a trade agreement with 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific, including Canada and Mexico that will eliminate over 18,000 taxes various countries put on Made-in-America products.

With the TPP, we can rewrite the rules of trade to benefit America’s middle class. Because if we don’t, competitors who don’t share our values, like China, will step in to fill that void.

[ucrdem]

5. Exactly.

The BHO admin has basically had to reconstruct the US economy from the wreck it inherited and TPP as I see it is taking the Obama way worldwide. Of course anything he does is an opportunity for the blowfish to blow, see *ahem* elsewhere LOL

[yallerdawg]

7. "I'd rather be a hammer than a nail!"

Our local regional Democratic candidates want to save our union jobs (during election cycles)...

Obama wants us to have good jobs leading the way, not a return to "Norma Rae"!

Not this:

[Thinkingabout]

6. Trade is important to the US and also part of the presidents responsibility.

[yallerdawg]

8. Trade is important in every state.

How about your state?

This link lets you click on your state to see how it effects you locally:

https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/united-states

[Cha]

9. Thank you, yallerdawg!

[yallerdawg]

10. It's a bit wonky, but...

"an informed electorate yada-yada", right?

Or we leave it to our 'friends' in GD...

[yallerdawg]

11. More on TPP from the Office of the United States Trade Representative

This is the office of the Executive Branch that negotiates the trade deals (not the CEOs from Evil Corp!).

https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2015/october/summary-trans-pacific-partnership

[brer cat]

12. Thanks for the thread, yallerdawg.

Are you planning to keep this up and running to help us actually learn what is in it? It is going to be long and technical, so I know I will need help getting through it. I have no intention of wading into GD.

WAPO reported this morning that the Aussies apparently won out on the market exclusivity on genetically engineered drugs: 5 years instead of the current 12 under US laws. I consider that a win for us all, well except big pharma and their bought and paid for members of Congress.

[yallerdawg]

13. We are going to hear, "TPP is the end of the world!"

Just like passage of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) would be the end of the world. Still here, aren't we?

Many of us will be standing with our Democratic president resisting the irrational false BS about to come again!

There are quite enough legitimate issues and problems for passage without the over-the-top rhetoric and fear mongering.

"What is best?" remains the final question. Let's look at it.

On that exclusivity compromise, serious forces wanted that 12 years. Will they accept 5? Or is there now another rich capitalist force opposing TPP?

TPP is not by any means a foregone conclusion.