US President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for the swift implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), calling it the “most progressive trade deal ever.”
“This is the highest standard and most progressive trade deal ever concluded,” he said. “It includes strong protections for workers, prohibitions against child labour and forced labour,” he said.
“It has provisions to protect the environment, to help stop wildlife trafficking, to protect our oceans,” he added.
“These are enforceable provisions that can be brought to bear much as the same way any provisions related to tariffs can be dealt with.”
The deal has faced criticism, in particular over a proposed binding arbitration system that can be invoked by corporations against nation states.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the TPP member countries vowed to work for the “expeditious” approval of the TPP “consistent with domestic processes”.
The TPP members cover about 40% of the world’s economies, and consist of Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the US, Vietnam, Chile, Brunei, Singapore and New Zealand.
—