Information provided by USTR.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) this week released a detailed summary of the most recent U.S. negotiating objectives on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The report, coupled with a recent update on progress made in negotiations at a July ministerial meeting in Hawaii, are part of continued Administration efforts to make trade negotiations accessible and transparent to the public and their representatives in Congress. The steps USTR has taken were in line with provisions included in the bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority bill passed earlier this year.

“This report is a detailed look at what we are fighting for at the TPP negotiating table to help unlock opportunity for U.S. workers, farmers, and businesses,” said Ambassador Froman. “We have taken Congress’s marching orders through bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority and our ongoing consultations seriously and are following through on delivering the high standard deal Congress and the American people expect.”

According to the summary, 20 percent of U.S. farm income comes from agricultural exports, which support rural communities. U.S. food and agricultural exports to the world reached an all-time high in 2013 of over $148 billion. Of that total, the U.S. exported more than $58 billion to TPP countries – a figure that would increase as a result of tariff elimination under TPP.

As just one example: U.S. poultry currently faces a 40-percent tariff in Malaysia. U.S. poultry would become more affordable in Malaysia under a TPP Agreement that reduces these tariffs to zero.

“This is another in a series of steps this Administration has taken to share information at every step of the TPP negotiating process,” said Chief Transparency Officer Tim Reif. “Through detailed summaries, a robust congressional consultation process, outreach to a more diverse set of stakeholders, and public input on negotiating aims, we continue to build a more open and transparent negotiation process. We are always looking to do more, and appreciate the important steps taken on transparency in the Trade Promotion Authority law.”

To view USTR’s most recent Detailed Summary of U.S Objectives in TPP, please click here .