Gabbard Comments Following TPP Finalized Agreement

A finalized agreement has been made on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, spoke after the announcement Monday, noting that the American people have been shut out from the details of the trade agreement.

“This deal, which will affect 40 percent of our global economy, will be even more unenforceable and more disastrous for American jobs and our economy than NAFTA has already proven to be,” said Congresswoman Gabbard.

Congresswoman Gabbard says she will examine the details of the deal once it is delivered to Congress, nothing that based on what she has seen, “the TPP agreement will benefit Wall Street banks and multinational corporations on the backs of hard-working Americans, and it will increase existing threats to our environment.”

During the 90-day review period, Congresswoman Gabbard plans to bring a voice to those who are worried about the effects that agreement may have on their own businesses.

“These are the people who are the backbone of our economy, and their voices must be heard over the din of rhetoric coming from multinational corporations and special interests who will benefit most from this,” Congresswoman Gabbard said. “If it contains the same noxious provisions we suspected it would, I will do all I can to defeat the TPP when it comes before Congress for a final up-or-down vote.”

Earlier this year, Congresswoman Gabbard voted against granting the administration “fast-track” Trade Promotion Authority. Congress passed TPS, however, and Congresswoman Gabbard continued to call for increased protections for domestic workers who were displaced by trade, including Trade Adjustment Assistance.

The TTP deal will be available to the public for the first time in full text after the president’s formal notification to Congress of his intent to sign the deal. After the notification is made, Congress will have 90 days to review the agreement before voting on it.