What’s At Stake
Writing the Rules To Support American Jobs
Watch the President's Weekly Address on TPP
The President's Remarks on Trade
TPP's Impact on the American People and Workers
America’s trade policy may seem remote and technical, but it has a significant impact on the strength of our economy and the lives of millions of Americans. If the businesses you buy from everyday also sell their products to customers abroad, they are more likely to expand and support jobs here at home.
Why is that? Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside our borders. Our Made-in-America products and services are in demand, making American exports a vital pillar of our 21st century economy. In fact, exports played an indispensable role in America’s resurgence from the Great Recession.So, when the rules are fair, Americans can out-compete anyone in the world.
Last year, we broke the record in American exports for the fifth year in a row, selling $2.34 trillion in goods and services abroad. And here’s why that’s important: The more we sell abroad, the more higher-paying jobs we support here at home.
And those jobs tend to pay Americans better, meaning companies that export pay up to 18% more than companies that don’t.
But right now, our current trade policy — the status quo — puts our workers and businesses at a disadvantage, with higher costs for American goods, more barriers to trade, and lower standards for workers and the environment abroad than we have at home.
That is why President Obama has concluded negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership and will now work with Congress to secure its passage into law. The TPP is a trade agreement with 11 other countries in the Asia-Pacific, including Canada and Mexico that will eliminate over 18,000 taxes various countries put on Made-in-America products.
With the TPP, we can rewrite the rules of trade to benefit America’s middle class. Because if we don’t, competitors who don’t share our values, like China, will step in to fill that void.
That is why the President’s trade policy is the best tool we have to ensure that our workers, our businesses, and our values are shaping globalization and the 21st century economy, rather than getting left behind.
What’s in the Deal Writing the Rules To Support American Jobs
Trade policy doesn’t just support our country’s economy, it can reflect our country’s values too.
The President knows that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype. That is why he fought for the high standards embodied in this trade agreement that will upgrade our existing agreements to reflect our American values.
Under the TPP, tough, fully-enforceable standards will protect workers’ rights and the environment for the first time in history. Here’s what that means:
On Workers’ Rights:
- A ban on child and forced labor
- A minimum wage
- A ban on workplace discrimination
- The right to form a union and bargain collectively
- Workplace safety standards
- Trade sanctions for violating labor rights
On the Environment:
- Combat illegal wildlife trafficking
- Protect against overfishing
- Protect our oceans
- Combat illegal logging
- Trade sanctions for violating environmental protections
On Other Progressive Priorities:
- Protect a free and open Internet
- Protect consumers from fraud and deception
- Require comprehensive anti-corruption and transparency measures
- Help simplify export rules for small businesses
in-between
Want to dig into the details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
Learn everything you need to know about what’s in the deal and who it helps.
What People Are Saying
Here’s Who Supports the TPP and Why
The TPP will have a profound impact on how we help small businesses expand, how we support online entrepreneurs who are just getting off the ground, how we promote gender equality for women, how we invest in the developing world, how we protect our most endangered species, and how we make great progress in the fight for human rights.
Check out these stories to see how America’s trade policy is an important lever in bringing about real progress for our economy, our workers, and our values.
What Experts and Leaders are Saying (Trade)
Nick Martin, CoFounder of The Pro’s Closet
Diana Doukas, Director of the White House Business Council
Tom Lisicki, President of Stash Tea Company
Jim Doyle, former Governor of Wisconsin
Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania
Christine Gregoire, former Governor of Washington
Admiral Samuel Locklear, Former Commander, Pacific Command
John Hamre, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense
Joint Ocean Commission Initiative
Wildlife Conservation Society
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Council on Foreign Relations
Statement by the President on TPP
The White House
The President on Securing the Trans-Pacific Partnership
This partnership levels the playing field for our farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers by eliminating more than 18,000 taxes that various countries put on our products. It includes the strongest commitments on labor and the environment of any trade agreement in history, and those commitments are enforceable, unlike in past agreements. It promotes a free and open Internet. It strengthens our strategic relationships with our partners and allies in a region that will be vital to the 21st century. It’s an agreement that puts American workers first and will help middle-class families get ahead.