Former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman speaking in Tokyo this week said the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) can still serve as a guide for future trade agreements. The Nikkei (Nee-kay) Asian Review reports Froman told a symposium this week: “It’s possible that the U.S., among other countries, will look to what we agreed to in the TPP as they negotiate or renegotiate other agreements.” President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the trade pact in January. Froman cited as an example the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump has said he would like to renegotiate with partners Canada and Mexico. Froman said a number of members of Congress have talked about adding provisions on labor, the environment, state-owned enterprises and the digital economy, “all of which were part of the TPP.” On the future of the TPP, Froman remained optimistic that the pact will come into effect despite the absence of the U.S. He said it’s possible the other TPP countries will approve the agreement, while potentially adding additional countries to the accord.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.