Business Leader Warns Against Prioritizing TPP Conclusion Date
U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue cautioned against sacrificing market access gains in exchange for a quick end to negotiations. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has repeatedly pressed for negotiations to end by the end of 2013 (see 13080714). “A successful TPP must get rid of tariffs; eliminate discriminatory regulations and standards; protect intellectual property to support innovation and growth; cultivate the digital economy; bind state-owned enterprises to a standard of fair competition; and combat trade and investment protectionism,” said Donohue in the statement (here).
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USTR Michael Froman rebuffed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticism while speaking to reporters on Aug. 23 (here). Froman declined to comment on the specifics of efforts geared towards resolving disputes over goods certain countries would prefer to exclude from the comprehensive tariff elimination network, known as “sensitive products,” and rules of origin. “In the final period there is more intense activity. So we are not rushing this agreement to meet a particular deadline,” said Froman. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and USTR did not respond to requests for comments.
Rules of origin for apparel manufacturing has emerged as one area of contention that could prevent blanket tariff eliminations (see 13082011). Country-specific concerns for "sensitive products" are also an obstacle to across-the-board eliminations, said President of the National Foreign Trade Council Bill Reinsch. For instance “Japan wants to leave out certain products," he said "Other countries are saying no exclusions…rice and all the rest,” said Reinsch, noting that Japanese rice is only one of several “sensitive products.” Negotiators "could agree on some exclusions,” he said.