U.S. Chamber Testifies in Support of Trans-Pacific Partnership

"American Companies Need a Level Playing Field in Asia," Brilliant Says

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's senior vice president of International Affairs, testified today before an interagency hearing at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement.

"We support the negotiation and conclusion of a commercially viable TPP agreement," Brilliant said during testimony to the Trade Policy Staff Committee. "Now more than ever American companies need a level playing field for which to trade and invest in Asia, and this partnership is a stepping stone towards that goal."

The TPP partners include Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, Chile, and Brunei. The first round of negotiations is tentatively scheduled for the spring 2009.

"Non-tariff barriers in this agreement will be the issues our negotiators will have to tackle," Brilliant said. "In addition to strong IP protections and enforcement, standards conformance and regulatory harmonization are the most significant issues facing American companies exporting and investing in Asia.

"We intend to support USTR and Congress through this process and ensure that American companies and workers benefit," he said.

Mr. Brilliant's full testimony is attached at: http://www.uschamber.com/issues/testimony/2009/090304_tppa.htm

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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