Obama Pushes TPP at ASEAN Summit
President Barack Obama outlined reforms necessary for parties to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the White House is launching a “new effort” to help all ASEAN countries understand important provisions of the pact, according to a readout of a press conference on the sidelines of the U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (here). “I reiterated that the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- which includes four ASEAN members -- can advance economic integration across ASEAN and set stronger rules for trade throughout the Asia Pacific,” Obama told reporters. During the opening session of the summit on Feb. 15, Obama highlighted the efforts of ASEAN member states Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, who he said have “committed to high labor and environmental standards” by signing the TPP.
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Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman continued his office’s campaign for TPP support in a Feb. 16 speech at Stanford University, where he said U.S. exports will increase $50 million per year as a result of the pact, according to prepared remarks (here). The agreement has generated interest from ASEAN members Indonesia and the Philippines as well as ASEAN Plus Three member South Korea, Froman said.