Ryan, Committee Members Push TPP Agenda in Singapore, Other Asian Nations
House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., led a congressional delegation to meet with high-ranking trade and economic officials in Singapore on Feb. 16, his office said (here). The lawmakers pressed the significance of TPP intellectual property protections, state-owned enterprise rules and strong market access opportunities for U.S. producers, said the statement. Congress is committed to improving trade relations with Singapore and other Southeast Asian nations, the statement added.
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The delegation is looking to "advance the U.S. trade agenda" on a week-long trip to three Asian countries involved in Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, the committee said before his departure on Feb. 13 (here). Six Republican committee members, including Trade Subcommittee chief Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, are accompanying Ryan, as well as Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y. The committee hasn't yet said which other countries are on the itinerary.
"Other countries are trying to reshape the state of play in Asia, and so we have to stay engaged. Our trading partners need to know that the United States is serious about advancing its trade priorities and strengthening our ties in the region," a Feb. 13 committee release said. "They also need to know that we will not accept just any agreement. We will accept only one that truly breaks down barriers for American exporters." Ryan called on Japan to concede more market access and ease more regulatory import barriers or exit TPP talks in comments this month (see 1502050019). The White House and lawmakers often say TPP failure would allow the Chinese to write regional rules for trade.