TPP Negotiators Make Progress as Brunei Talks Conclude, Said USTR
The negotiators that participated in the 19th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks in Brunei worked this week “to close gaps” on sensitive issues that continue to pose obstacles to conclude negotiations by the U.S. Trade Representative-promoted end of 2013 target, the USTR said in a Aug. 30 press release. Although the USTR’s involvement is positive, that target remains ambitious, industry players and analysts have said (see 13082011). The Brunei talks lasted from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30.
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“Buoyed by the ministerial engagement and their commitment to actively guide the negotiations, negotiators advanced their technical work this round on the texts covering market access, rules of origin, investment, financial services, intellectual property, competition, and environment,” said the release. “They also made progress on the packages providing access to each other’s markets for goods, services, investment, financial services, temporary entry, and government procurement.”
Negotiators also discussed labor issues embedded in TPP chapters. International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James Hoffa recently claimed Vietnam, one of 12 potential TPP countries, could likely not immediately meet TPP labor standards (see 13082913). Negotiators will meet between sessions in the lead-up to the October meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders in Bali, USTR said.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the press release.