Obama warns TPP failure would let China write trade rules

[Aepsilons]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, trying to sway skeptics on free trade among his supporters, said Friday that if the U.S. can’t come to terms on an accord being worked on with other Pacific nations, China will step in to fill the void.

Asia has the globe’s most populous and fastest-growing markets and the U.S. has to have access to sustain economic growth, Obama said at a White House news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.




“If we do not help to shape the rules so that our businesses and our workers can compete in those markets, then China will set up rules that advantage Chinese workers and Chinese businesses,” he said.

Obama is trying to give momentum to a bipartisan deal announced Thursday for legislation that, if passed, would make it easier for the administration to negotiate trade deals. He is also seeking to close a deal with 11 other nations on an accord, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that would cover about 40 percent of global trade.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman is going to Tokyo this weekend for high-level talks aimed at narrowing differences between the U.S. and Japan, which are by far the biggest economies involved.

Froman said on Thursday that the broader group of countries is also nearing completion of the Asia-Pacific pact. “There are open issues across the agreement, but everyone is in a closing mode,” Froman said in Washington.

Froman’s trip comes ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Washington on April 28.

Republicans, who hold majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, have generally been supportive of free trade deals. Resistance is coming, instead, from Obama’s fellow Democrats.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer, the third-ranking Democrat in the chamber, said he has changed his mind since supporting previous free trade accords. While such deals may increase corporate profits and improve U.S. gross national product, middle-income Americans may suffer.

“Our middle class is hurting,” Schumer said at a hearing on Thursday. “All the evidence I’ve seen is that this hurts middle-class incomes.”

Obama praised the bipartisan deal on legislation to grant him what is known as fast-track negotiating authority, which was negotiated by Sens. Orrin Hatch, the Republican chairman of the Finance Committee that oversees trade policy, and Ron Wyden, the panel’s top Democrat. It would let the White House send Congress trade pacts for votes without amendments that would change the terms.

Wyden predicted the bill would emerge from the Finance Committee with Democratic support, and suggested the full Senate vote would be successful as well.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, introduced a similar bill in the House.

Supporters of fast track need bipartisanship in both houses. Republicans control the Senate 54-46, but 60 votes are needed to advance legislation. In the House, a group of Republicans plan to oppose trade authority, so some Democrats are needed to get to a majority.

House Speaker John Boehner has said he needs Democratic votes to pass the legislation through his chamber.

In an interview Thursday with Fox Business, the Ohio Republican looked to ratchet up pressure on Democrats, saying he “can’t imagine” they would abandon the president “on one of his biggest remaining priorities.”

Eleven House Democrats have announced their support for granting Obama trade authority.

Organized labor, a crucial Democratic Party ally, has lobbied strenuously against the deal. The AFL-CIO has vowed to buy advertising targeting 16 senators and 36 House members seen as potential swing votes.

Obama, who pledged to double U.S. exports when he took office six years ago, said he understands that labor unions and middle-income Americans are wary about free trade accords that they blame for sending U.S. manufacturing jobs overseas. “People recognize that there have been circumstances in the past in which trade may have contributed to aggregate growth of the global economy or even the U.S. economy, but hurt workers,” he said. “And we’ve learned lessons from that.”

The legislation from Hatch and Wyden reflects those lessons, Obama said. Among its provisions, the legislation seeks to combat currency manipulation and end barriers to digital trade, according to a statement accompanying the measure.

Wyden also succeeded in adding language giving Congress the right to jettison the fast-track process if enough lawmakers find the president ignored negotiating goals.

Hatch has said he will hold a committee hearing April 23 to debate and then vote on advancing the bill.

The U.S. and the European Union are working on a similar pact.


Obama warns TPP failure would let China write trade rules | The Japan Times

 

[Aepsilons]

Another 'warning' ? lol

Supporters of fast track need bipartisanship in both houses. Republicans control the Senate 54-46, but 60 votes are needed to advance legislation. In the House, a group of Republicans plan to oppose trade authority, so some Democrats are needed to get to a majority.

Not very pleasant to hear.

 

[TaiShang]

Another 'warning' ? lol




Not very pleasant to hear.

LOL.

Lame duck Obama quacks louder
02.02.2015

US President Barack Obama has decided to show his teeth. However, the US president is doing it under the pressure from Republicans. Barack Obama has worked hard to earn the reputation of a lame duck. Pravda.Ru interviewed deputy director of the Institute of USA and Canada, Valery Garbuzov, about the current situation in the White Duck House.

"What are the main things in Obama's recent State of the Union speech that a Russian citizen should pay attention to?"

"Obama's speech was similar to many of his previous ones. In the speech, Obama touched upon problems of domestic development of the United States of America. The main problem that the US administration faces today is the state of the American economy and the effects of the financial and economic crisis. As for external problems, Obama has repeatedly spoken about them in his previous speeches and appearances. These problems are associated with Russia and Ukraine, the fight against the Islamic State and other traditional foreign policy issues, in which the United States is involved.

"The atmosphere, in which Obama delivered his speech to the Congress, was not a usual one. Obama's Democratic Party had lost the majority at the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Republicans gained the majority. Therefore, Obama was speaking to the people, most of whom were unfriendly to him.

• Print version
• Send to friend

"Of course, one should bear in mind the fact that there are less than two years left before the next presidential election. Obama is a lame duck, because he has no majority either in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. That is his hands are shackled and so are his initiatives, because a US president does not rule alone - he rules together with the Congress. Therefore, Obama tried to represent himself as a strong and dynamic leader, rather than a lame duck.

"He received most of applause from Democrats, while Republicans were listening to his speech skeptically. I do not think that the speech could change the attitude of the American society to its sitting president.

"The president, who enters the White House, always has a higher rating than the president, who leaves the White House. Obama will not be able to avoid it. It is not words, but action that can raise his ratings. Obama's main initiative - the immigration reform - has failed. Now he tries to take elements of the immigration reform and push them through presidential decrees, bypassing the Congress.

"In the US, there is a huge number of illegal immigrants. The goal of Obama's immigration reform is immigration amnesty in the first place, so that millions of immigrants living in the United States could illegally obtain US citizenship. Official statistics says there are five million of them, but many believe that the actual number is 9-10 million. All of them are potential voters of the Democratic Party.

"Republicans have always criticized Obama for doing it all for selfish purposes. Obama does not want to be a lame duck. He wants to create an image of a strong president, even though Republicans criticize him for being weak and indecisive. As they say, better late than never, and we can see Obama being resolute in foreign policy toward Russia. The position of the US president towards Russia is largely based on the political situation inside the United States. One can say that the Republicans have nailed him, and Obama can not go against them."

"Do you mean that Obama's remarks about the Russian economy in tatters, about the international isolation of Russia target the Americans in the first place?"

"Of course, this is all for Americans, first and foremost. It should also be borne in mind that this kind of speeches, the State of the Union, is a mixture of political expediency, exaggeration and even demagogy. Obviously, Western sanctions have complicated life in Russia, the economic situation in Russia. Of course, this is our fault that our one-sided economic development did not anticipate that this could happen. Now they talk about restructurization and diversification of the Russian economy, but they have been talking about it for years."

"Do the US authorities believe indeed that the sanctions can force Russia do what the USA wants it to do?"

"Obama has recently said at a press conference that Russia will not change its political course because of the sanctions. He doubts that the sanctions can reach the desired effect. Maybe, he realizes that the goals of these measures - turning the ship of Russian foreign policy and, let's say, removing Putin from power, returning the Crimea to Ukraine - is unlikely to happen.

"What can these sanctions do? What have they done? They, of course, have greatly harmed the economic progress in Russia, which, of course, is based on fuel resources and the implementation of the energy strategy. The Russian authorities hoped that the implementation of the energy strategy in Russia would solve many important problems inside the country. Indeed, many social problems have been solved. As for foreign policy, Russia wanted to take a foothold in the European market and ensure a position of an energy superpower for itself.

"Today, this is the strategy that the USA and the EU attack. However, they attack themselves too. This concerns Europe and primarily Germany. I do not think that the sanctions will make the Russian population rebel against the government and so on. These hopes of the West will not materialize.

"The United States of America has been keeping Cuba under sanctions for 50 years, but they have not removed Castro from power. They have not led to the evolution of the Castro regime in Cuba either. Today, as we can see, the situation starts to change. Sanctions can work as a weapon to reach temporary, short-term , rather than ultimate goals. At the same time, Russia should be smart enough to take advantage of these sanctions to finally realize the widely talked-about plans."

"Don't you think that our civilization is on the way to its end?"

"No, but it's all complicated, of course. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to negative effects. For example, many independent states started moving away from Russia. Russia's geopolitical space and sphere of influence has narrowed considerably.

The collapse of the USSR was the collapse of a huge empire. Such a phenomenon is always painful to any nation, at all times. When Putin came to power, Russia started addressing many of its problems to restore the lost geopolitical influence. Russia paid attention to the Eurasian project, and the USA was very unhappy about such a development. For America, any of Russia's integration initiatives is a desire to revive the Soviet Union. Therefore, the United States eyed the territories, where internal forces work to separate, rather than to consolidate the society. Georgia was a bright example of this course, but it didn't work well. Ukraine is a very complex society that failed to overcome many problems of the post-Soviet period. Feuding oligarchic groups, corruption, absence of normal political culture in general - all this became the ground, where one could use the factor of Western influence."

"The confrontation between Russia and the West is close to war. How can it be avoided?"

"It is difficult to give a recipe for solving this crisis. All parties say that hostilities should be stopped. Poroshenko says that too, but one can hardly trust him. All of his speeches and remarks are a mixture of empty words, outright lies and attempts to win the support of the West. I think one has to wait and believe that someone in the West - not in the US, but in Europe - will take a sober look on the events in Ukraine.

"There was a time, when they were idolizing Mikhail Saakashvili, a promising boy, who would make Georgia look like candy. Where is the candy, and where is this boy? Ukraine, unfortunately, is on the same path.

"I do not cast the Europeans aside. Russia is closely linked to Europe economically. Many European businessmen, who work with Russia, are highly dissatisfied with all these sanctions. They start putting serious pressure on their governments, and it appears that pressure should grow stronger.

"Obama continues talking about American exceptionalism, although this idea is common to all American presidents. America, in fact, represents almost all ethnic groups of the world, all religions of the world, all the variety of cultures of the world. I think that his has played a cruel joke on the Americans: they have developed the usefulness complex. They see themselves as a model to be followed by others.

Managing the American society is difficult. In the American society, there is a great deal of potentials for various conflicts. The emblem of the United States of America says: "Unity in diversity". In reality, though, uniting this society is a hard nut to crack. Of course, one should always take efforts to unite such a society. The US authorities speak about exceptionalism of the American nation to unite the American people, to make them stand together."

"How will Russia's relations with the United States develop? Is the Ukrainian conflict the beginning of a major war? Will there be a direct military confrontation, a direct war between NATO and Russia?"

"I want to believe that this will happen. I want to believe that the conflict will be settled peacefully. There will be time when all finally gather for talks, although, for the time being, there is no dialogue at all. The dialogue between Russia and the USA today is the dialogue between Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov. That's it. They meet regularly, they are often on the phone, but there is no every day diplomatic dialogue between the two countries."

Interviewed by Lyuba Lulko

Prepared by Yuri Kondratyev

Pravda.Ru

 

[northeast]

Huh，so TPP is just another anti-China organization？Don't understand Why US are so afraid of China.

 

[Aepsilons]

To be honest, I don't know how this will proceed now. Looks like the US Congress won't even pass it if it were to be signed. Hmmm, so the question is --- Can we start the JP-CN-SK FTA now?

LOL.

Lame duck Obama quacks louder
02.02.2015

US President Barack Obama has decided to show his teeth. However, the US president is doing it under the pressure from Republicans. Barack Obama has worked hard to earn the reputation of a lame duck. Pravda.Ru interviewed deputy director of the Institute of USA and Canada, Valery Garbuzov, about the current situation in the White Duck House.

"What are the main things in Obama's recent State of the Union speech that a Russian citizen should pay attention to?"

"Obama's speech was similar to many of his previous ones. In the speech, Obama touched upon problems of domestic development of the United States of America. The main problem that the US administration faces today is the state of the American economy and the effects of the financial and economic crisis. As for external problems, Obama has repeatedly spoken about them in his previous speeches and appearances. These problems are associated with Russia and Ukraine, the fight against the Islamic State and other traditional foreign policy issues, in which the United States is involved.

"The atmosphere, in which Obama delivered his speech to the Congress, was not a usual one. Obama's Democratic Party had lost the majority at the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Republicans gained the majority. Therefore, Obama was speaking to the people, most of whom were unfriendly to him.

• Print version
• Send to friend

"Of course, one should bear in mind the fact that there are less than two years left before the next presidential election. Obama is a lame duck, because he has no majority either in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. That is his hands are shackled and so are his initiatives, because a US president does not rule alone - he rules together with the Congress. Therefore, Obama tried to represent himself as a strong and dynamic leader, rather than a lame duck.

"He received most of applause from Democrats, while Republicans were listening to his speech skeptically. I do not think that the speech could change the attitude of the American society to its sitting president.

"The president, who enters the White House, always has a higher rating than the president, who leaves the White House. Obama will not be able to avoid it. It is not words, but action that can raise his ratings. Obama's main initiative - the immigration reform - has failed. Now he tries to take elements of the immigration reform and push them through presidential decrees, bypassing the Congress.

"In the US, there is a huge number of illegal immigrants. The goal of Obama's immigration reform is immigration amnesty in the first place, so that millions of immigrants living in the United States could illegally obtain US citizenship. Official statistics says there are five million of them, but many believe that the actual number is 9-10 million. All of them are potential voters of the Democratic Party.

"Republicans have always criticized Obama for doing it all for selfish purposes. Obama does not want to be a lame duck. He wants to create an image of a strong president, even though Republicans criticize him for being weak and indecisive. As they say, better late than never, and we can see Obama being resolute in foreign policy toward Russia. The position of the US president towards Russia is largely based on the political situation inside the United States. One can say that the Republicans have nailed him, and Obama can not go against them."

"Do you mean that Obama's remarks about the Russian economy in tatters, about the international isolation of Russia target the Americans in the first place?"

"Of course, this is all for Americans, first and foremost. It should also be borne in mind that this kind of speeches, the State of the Union, is a mixture of political expediency, exaggeration and even demagogy. Obviously, Western sanctions have complicated life in Russia, the economic situation in Russia. Of course, this is our fault that our one-sided economic development did not anticipate that this could happen. Now they talk about restructurization and diversification of the Russian economy, but they have been talking about it for years."

"Do the US authorities believe indeed that the sanctions can force Russia do what the USA wants it to do?"

"Obama has recently said at a press conference that Russia will not change its political course because of the sanctions. He doubts that the sanctions can reach the desired effect. Maybe, he realizes that the goals of these measures - turning the ship of Russian foreign policy and, let's say, removing Putin from power, returning the Crimea to Ukraine - is unlikely to happen.

"What can these sanctions do? What have they done? They, of course, have greatly harmed the economic progress in Russia, which, of course, is based on fuel resources and the implementation of the energy strategy. The Russian authorities hoped that the implementation of the energy strategy in Russia would solve many important problems inside the country. Indeed, many social problems have been solved. As for foreign policy, Russia wanted to take a foothold in the European market and ensure a position of an energy superpower for itself.

"Today, this is the strategy that the USA and the EU attack. However, they attack themselves too. This concerns Europe and primarily Germany. I do not think that the sanctions will make the Russian population rebel against the government and so on. These hopes of the West will not materialize.

"The United States of America has been keeping Cuba under sanctions for 50 years, but they have not removed Castro from power. They have not led to the evolution of the Castro regime in Cuba either. Today, as we can see, the situation starts to change. Sanctions can work as a weapon to reach temporary, short-term , rather than ultimate goals. At the same time, Russia should be smart enough to take advantage of these sanctions to finally realize the widely talked-about plans."

"Don't you think that our civilization is on the way to its end?"

"No, but it's all complicated, of course. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to negative effects. For example, many independent states started moving away from Russia. Russia's geopolitical space and sphere of influence has narrowed considerably.

The collapse of the USSR was the collapse of a huge empire. Such a phenomenon is always painful to any nation, at all times. When Putin came to power, Russia started addressing many of its problems to restore the lost geopolitical influence. Russia paid attention to the Eurasian project, and the USA was very unhappy about such a development. For America, any of Russia's integration initiatives is a desire to revive the Soviet Union. Therefore, the United States eyed the territories, where internal forces work to separate, rather than to consolidate the society. Georgia was a bright example of this course, but it didn't work well. Ukraine is a very complex society that failed to overcome many problems of the post-Soviet period. Feuding oligarchic groups, corruption, absence of normal political culture in general - all this became the ground, where one could use the factor of Western influence."

"The confrontation between Russia and the West is close to war. How can it be avoided?"

"It is difficult to give a recipe for solving this crisis. All parties say that hostilities should be stopped. Poroshenko says that too, but one can hardly trust him. All of his speeches and remarks are a mixture of empty words, outright lies and attempts to win the support of the West. I think one has to wait and believe that someone in the West - not in the US, but in Europe - will take a sober look on the events in Ukraine.

"There was a time, when they were idolizing Mikhail Saakashvili, a promising boy, who would make Georgia look like candy. Where is the candy, and where is this boy? Ukraine, unfortunately, is on the same path.

"I do not cast the Europeans aside. Russia is closely linked to Europe economically. Many European businessmen, who work with Russia, are highly dissatisfied with all these sanctions. They start putting serious pressure on their governments, and it appears that pressure should grow stronger.

"Obama continues talking about American exceptionalism, although this idea is common to all American presidents. America, in fact, represents almost all ethnic groups of the world, all religions of the world, all the variety of cultures of the world. I think that his has played a cruel joke on the Americans: they have developed the usefulness complex. They see themselves as a model to be followed by others.

Managing the American society is difficult. In the American society, there is a great deal of potentials for various conflicts. The emblem of the United States of America says: "Unity in diversity". In reality, though, uniting this society is a hard nut to crack. Of course, one should always take efforts to unite such a society. The US authorities speak about exceptionalism of the American nation to unite the American people, to make them stand together."

"How will Russia's relations with the United States develop? Is the Ukrainian conflict the beginning of a major war? Will there be a direct military confrontation, a direct war between NATO and Russia?"

"I want to believe that this will happen. I want to believe that the conflict will be settled peacefully. There will be time when all finally gather for talks, although, for the time being, there is no dialogue at all. The dialogue between Russia and the USA today is the dialogue between Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov. That's it. They meet regularly, they are often on the phone, but there is no every day diplomatic dialogue between the two countries."

Interviewed by Lyuba Lulko

Prepared by Yuri Kondratyev

Pravda.Ru

Unfortunately, Barry's foreign policies have all ended in utter and dismal failure. He's desperate for anything now, LOL!

 

[TaiShang]

To be honest, I don't know how this will proceed now. Looks like the US Congress won't even pass it if it were to be signed. Hmmm, so the question is --- Can we start the JP-CN-SK FTA now?




Unfortunately, Barry's foreign policies have all ended in utter and dismal failure. He's desperate for anything now, LOL!

Indeed we should start the CN-JP-SK FTA as early as possible.

Such an agreement would be the greatest indicator of regional integration in East Asia.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

I am sick of all the warnings.
China should warn back

 

[qwerrty]

 

[Aepsilons]

Indeed we should start the CN-JP-SK FTA as early as possible.

Such an agreement would be the greatest indicator of regional integration in East Asia.

Honestly. Abe and Government are only continuing with dialogue with Obama for the sake of being civil with him. The man will be out of office in a year's time. And as it stands the Republican Dominated Congress will most likely veto this "fast packed" apparatus. It will end in quagmire , just as anything Obama has ratified into law, ergo his 2010 Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which has devastated the US Medical System and Billing Systems.

I believe it will be ought for naught. Better to refrain from making arrangements until the next President is in Office. Till then, I hope Tokyo follows through with the JP-CN-SK FTA.

 

[powastick]

TPPA a ‘New World Order’ conspiracy to regulate trade, Dr M warns | Malaysia | Malay Mail Online

PUTRAJAYA, March 9 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed today that the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a “New World Order” (NWO) ploy that would lead to the world’s most powerful countries dominating the global economy.

The former prime minister also claimed that the TPPA, like many other free trade agreements, is a way for the NWO to establish a “one world government” through globalisation, as no other approach appears to be viable any longer.

“It’s not a partnership. All the countries which participate will be subjected to more rules than they ever had before,” Dr Mahathir told the International Conference on NWO organised by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF).

“The TPPA is not about free trade, it’s about trade subjected to all kinds of laws and regulations, exposing countries to be sued by the international courts.”

The staunch TPPA critic also claimed that the countries that remain “recalcitrant” or refuse to conform to the trade agreement will be threatened by economic sanctions under this NWO.

Among others, Dr Mahathir listed down Iran and Russia as examples.

The conference accused today the existence of an NWO, where an allegedly secret group of elites are conspiring to rule the world via globalisation and a world government, replacing sovereign nation-states.

Dr Mahathir’s argument was however countered by Washington-based security consultant Thomas PM Barnett, who claimed that the US has put in place measures that seem to penalise itself more than other economies.

“Globalisation comes with rules. US pioneered the creation of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the general agreement on trade and tariffs that became the WTO,” Barnett said, referring to the World Trade Organisation.

“Well, the country most sued, since the WTO court was created, was the US. The country that has lost more suits than anybody else in the world in the WTO court, has been the US,” he added.

Barnett, who is also an author and public speaker, also claimed that the US has even allowed the emergence of rival trading blocs such as the BRICs -- comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China – and MINT – made up of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey, instead of stifling them.

The TPPA is a free trade agreement that has been negotiated by the US, Malaysia and nine other nations as part of the larger Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership since 2010.

In July last year, Dr Mahathir had called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to prove his leadership strength by keeping Malaysia out of the controversial TPPA, claiming that a “strong leader” would put his country’s interest first.

Despite that, Najib had in September last year reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment in the TPPA negotiations, provided that Malaysia’s concerns can be accommodated in the final outcome.

- See more at: TPPA a ‘New World Order’ conspiracy to regulate trade, Dr M warns | Malaysia | Malay Mail Online

 

[thepakistani]

TITLE SHOULD BE
Obama warns TTP (TEHRIK E TALIBAN PAKISTAN) failure would let China Pakistan write trade rules



comments please

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

“If we do not help to shape the rules so that our businesses and our workers can compete in those markets, then China will set up rules that advantage Chinese workers and Chinese businesses,” he said.

the last time in janauary he said something like this about China, he got humiliated with AIIB affaire, this time he said it again , I don't know what he will expect next from China.

 

[AndrewJin]

To be honest, I don't know how this will proceed now. Looks like the US Congress won't even pass it if it were to be signed. Hmmm, so the question is --- Can we start the JP-CN-SK FTA now?




Unfortunately, Barry's foreign policies have all ended in utter and dismal failure. He's desperate for anything now, LOL!

JP-CN-SK FTA is more likely to come true than TPP I think. JP-CN-SK is the only region around the world has a real whole manufacturing chain.

 

[Keel]

Obama: ‘Doesn’t make any sense’ few U.S. cars in Japan
David Shepardson, Detroit News Washington Bureau5:52 p.m. EDT April 17, 2015
14TWEETLINKEDIN 4COMMENTEMAILMORE

President Barack Obama defended a bill proposed Thursday that would allow for a “fast track” vote on a 12-nation free trade deal accounting for 40 percent of the world’s economy, saying it “doesn’t make any sense” that there are few U.S. vehicles in Japan.

Detroit’s Big Three automakers, the United Auto Workers union and many Democrats are strongly opposed to the fast track bill and to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal under negotiation for more than four years including Japan, Canada, Mexico and other countries.

“Being opposed to this new trade agreement is essentially a ratification of the status quo, where a lot of folks are selling here, but we’re not selling there. Japan is one of the negotiators in this deal. Now, the last time I checked, if you drive around Washington, there are a whole bunch of Japanese cars. You go to Tokyo and count how many Chryslers and GM and Ford cars there are. So the current situation is not working for us. And I don’t know why it is that folks would be opposed to us opening up the Japanese market more for U.S. autos, or U.S. beef. It doesn’t make any sense,” Obama said at a news conference Friday. “So I’m going to be able to make a strong case.”

But the free trade agreement is not just about U.S. access to Japan’s market — but about tariffs on imported U.S. vehicles.

Automakers say a trade deal must prevent Japan from being able to manipulate its currency valuation, which makes U.S. exports more expensive in Japan and Japanese exports cheaper in the United States in their respective currencies.

Obama referenced currency in his remarks. But Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing trade, said the fast track measure needs to go further on currency. The Obama administration has refused to raise currency in trade talks. He called the fast track bill “a major step backwards” on trade talks.

“We strongly support the inclusion of enforceable currency rules in (fast track) and in all future trade deals. The current language does not sufficiently address the most significant trade barrier manufacturers face,” said Ford spokeswoman Christin Baker.

A trade group representing Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said “we look forward to working with lawmakers to include strong and enforceable currency manipulation language in all future trade agreements."

Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, said Friday that any “new trade measure has to pass two tests: First, it should put us in a position to protect American workers, raise wages and create more good jobs at home. Second, it must also strengthen our national security. We should be willing to walk away from any outcome that falls short of these tests. The goal is greater prosperity and security for American families, not trade for trade’s sake.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a cornerstone of the Obama administration’s economic policy agenda. The administration argues that by dropping barriers and tariffs with fast-growing economies it will support millions of U.S. jobs through higher exports. And they argue it will strengthen the U.S. alliance with Japan — a key counterbalance to China’s rising influence.

Automakers worry that foreign governments like Japan's will be able to weaken their currency to undercut U.S. vehicle production.

The U.S. auto industry is worried a deal will be reached that doesn't do enough to open the Japanese auto sector to American products. Japan has historically imported very few foreign automobiles. The auto sector accounts for more than 70 percent of the U.S. trade deficit with Japan. "Right now Japanese cars are abundant in America. American cars are virtually nonexistent in Japan — and when you talk about that, you talk about opportunity," Perez said.

American automakers fear if Japan intervenes to weaken its currency, its automakers eventually will be able to dramatically undercut them, especially when U.S. tariffs are phased out — 25 percent on light trucks and 2.5 percent on cars. Automakers want the tariffs kept in place for at least 25 years or more. And China could seek to enter the free-trade agreement under the same rules down the road.

Japanese automakers argue that U.S. automakers haven’t build enough small cars that Japanese consumers want and haven’t made a serious attempt to sell cars in Japan.

DShepardson@detroitnews.com
Obama: ‘Doesn’t make any sense’ few U.S. cars in Japan

*************************************************************

How can the Japanese escape the sweeping radar?

Snuff bottle
Transparent, golden-brown amber with
some age crizzling; carved in relief on
one main side with two children on a
grassy ground, one standing holding
a vase of flowers and a fruit
Opulent agate cap with jade
embellishment rounded the edge

 

[Aepsilons]

Obama: ‘Doesn’t make any sense’ few U.S. cars in Japan
David Shepardson, Detroit News Washington Bureau5:52 p.m. EDT April 17, 2015
14TWEETLINKEDIN 4COMMENTEMAILMORE

President Barack Obama defended a bill proposed Thursday that would allow for a “fast track” vote on a 12-nation free trade deal accounting for 40 percent of the world’s economy, saying it “doesn’t make any sense” that there are few U.S. vehicles in Japan.

Detroit’s Big Three automakers, the United Auto Workers union and many Democrats are strongly opposed to the fast track bill and to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal under negotiation for more than four years including Japan, Canada, Mexico and other countries.

“Being opposed to this new trade agreement is essentially a ratification of the status quo, where a lot of folks are selling here, but we’re not selling there. Japan is one of the negotiators in this deal. Now, the last time I checked, if you drive around Washington, there are a whole bunch of Japanese cars. You go to Tokyo and count how many Chryslers and GM and Ford cars there are. So the current situation is not working for us. And I don’t know why it is that folks would be opposed to us opening up the Japanese market more for U.S. autos, or U.S. beef. It doesn’t make any sense,” Obama said at a news conference Friday. “So I’m going to be able to make a strong case.”

But the free trade agreement is not just about U.S. access to Japan’s market — but about tariffs on imported U.S. vehicles.

Automakers say a trade deal must prevent Japan from being able to manipulate its currency valuation, which makes U.S. exports more expensive in Japan and Japanese exports cheaper in the United States in their respective currencies.

Obama referenced currency in his remarks. But Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing trade, said the fast track measure needs to go further on currency. The Obama administration has refused to raise currency in trade talks. He called the fast track bill “a major step backwards” on trade talks.

“We strongly support the inclusion of enforceable currency rules in (fast track) and in all future trade deals. The current language does not sufficiently address the most significant trade barrier manufacturers face,” said Ford spokeswoman Christin Baker.

A trade group representing Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said “we look forward to working with lawmakers to include strong and enforceable currency manipulation language in all future trade agreements."

Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, said Friday that any “new trade measure has to pass two tests: First, it should put us in a position to protect American workers, raise wages and create more good jobs at home. Second, it must also strengthen our national security. We should be willing to walk away from any outcome that falls short of these tests. The goal is greater prosperity and security for American families, not trade for trade’s sake.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a cornerstone of the Obama administration’s economic policy agenda. The administration argues that by dropping barriers and tariffs with fast-growing economies it will support millions of U.S. jobs through higher exports. And they argue it will strengthen the U.S. alliance with Japan — a key counterbalance to China’s rising influence.

Automakers worry that foreign governments like Japan's will be able to weaken their currency to undercut U.S. vehicle production.

The U.S. auto industry is worried a deal will be reached that doesn't do enough to open the Japanese auto sector to American products. Japan has historically imported very few foreign automobiles. The auto sector accounts for more than 70 percent of the U.S. trade deficit with Japan. "Right now Japanese cars are abundant in America. American cars are virtually nonexistent in Japan — and when you talk about that, you talk about opportunity," Perez said.

American automakers fear if Japan intervenes to weaken its currency, its automakers eventually will be able to dramatically undercut them, especially when U.S. tariffs are phased out — 25 percent on light trucks and 2.5 percent on cars. Automakers want the tariffs kept in place for at least 25 years or more. And China could seek to enter the free-trade agreement under the same rules down the road.

Japanese automakers argue that U.S. automakers haven’t build enough small cars that Japanese consumers want and haven’t made a serious attempt to sell cars in Japan.

DShepardson@detroitnews.com
Obama: ‘Doesn’t make any sense’ few U.S. cars in Japan

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How can the Japanese escape the sweeping radar?

Snuff bottle
Transparent, golden-brown amber with
some age crizzling; carved in relief on
one main side with two children on a
grassy ground, one standing holding
a vase of flowers and a fruit
Opulent agate cap with jade
embellishment rounded the edge

LOL!!!

Obama, I don't understand the race riots, the poor immigration policy in USA, the millions of undocumented illegals streaming through the Texas and California border every year!! I can't understand the U.S.' own protectionist policies on Japanese automakers, so before you criticize look to your own issues.

Unbelievable incompetent moron!

the last time in janauary he said something like this about China, he got humiliated with AIIB affaire, this time he said it again , I don't know what he will expect next from China.

Not only that he publicly reprimanded the British Government for joining! The audacity !

JP-CN-SK FTA is more likely to come true than TPP I think. JP-CN-SK is the only region around the world has a real whole manufacturing chain.

Of course it would. Japan's natural trade partners are with both China and Korea; it's not like all three economies aren't integratinf as it is because all three are! It's just that with an FTA, this would mean a greater market penetration for each others' products. Japan can and should open more to a Chinese agricultural goods, electronics, and hey this means fishing goods as well. Japan can benefit by having greater access to the chinese domestic market.

Japan's trade with China is already nearing $400 Billion, there's no reason why it can't be $600 Billion or more. Let's hit the $1 Trillion mark!