Peters Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement as the twelve Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries concluded negotiations and reached an agreement:  

“Our trade policies must focus on improving American economic competitiveness and building a level playing field so that our businesses can grow, compete in the global marketplace and create good-paying jobs in the United States. At this time, it appears as though the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal fails to meet those objectives.

“I cannot support a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that does not prevent currency manipulation, fails to include strong enforceable labor protections and undermines the competitiveness of the American auto industry. An agreement that does not adequately address those concerns threatens our county’s economic competitiveness, especially within the American manufacturing sector, and could cost thousands of American manufacturing jobs.

“I am concerned that this agreement will be particularly harmful to American automakers and other manufacturers by giving an unfair advantage to foreign competitors. Countries like Japan could continue expanding vehicle exports without substantially opening their markets to American vehicles.

“I am also concerned that the structure of this agreement would allow other countries like China to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the future. The Chinese government has a history of using unfair trade practices including currency manipulation, intellectual property theft and weaker labor standards to gain trade advantages.

“In the coming months, I will be carefully reviewing the details of the proposed agreement, and I will work with my colleagues in Congress to fight against a deal that harms American workers and businesses.”

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