Both US Presidential candidates – the Democratic Party’s Hilary Clinton the Republican Party’s Donald Trump – have firmed in their opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump described Ms Clinton as “two-faced” and warned that she would pass the pact once she became President:
“She supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership – not now but very soon if she wins and we can’t let her win,” Trump, speaking at the Detroit Economic Club on Monday, said…
A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for TPP… Hillary Clinton will never withdraw from TPP… She is bought, controlled and paid for by her donors and special interests 100 per cent”…
In late June, Trump escalated the rhetoric against the TPP, proclaiming it a “rape of our country” and challenged Hillary Clinton to void the agreement in its entirety.
Speaking in Warren, Michigan yesterday, Ms Clinton obliged, also upping the rhetoric against the TPP:
“I will stop any trade deal that costs America jobs or holds down wages, including the Trans Pacific Partnership. I oppose it now, I’ll oppose it after the election and I’ll oppose it as president”.
So it appears that the chances of the US ratifying the TPP continues to fade as opposition builds on both sides.
It is believed that the best (perhaps only) chance of passing the TPP still rests with the Obama Administration waiting until the lame duck session after November’s Presidential Election before giving Congress the chance to vote on the deal. However, Hilary Clinton’s opposition and influence looks increasingly likely to stop the vote from occurring.
Interesting times.
