Third Way Response to Secretary Clinton’s Opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership

WASHINGTON -- Third Way President Jon Cowan issued the following statement in response to Secretary Clinton’s announced opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal:

“Secretary Clinton has pledged to run a campaign to do one thing above all: restore middle class prosperity. But there is no path to middle class prosperity without opening the doors to the vast Asian market, and there is no way to do that without the TPP Agreement.

“Just as opponents of the Iran nuclear deal made the unrealistic suggestion of starting the negotiations over to get a ‘better’ deal, getting 12 nations that represent nearly 40% of the world economy to return to the negotiating table to do a different deal is equally unrealistic.

“The last 17 trade deals that America has concluded—all post-NAFTA—have resulted in an improvement in our trade balance of more than $30 billion per year in the blue collar goods sector. This one will work even better.

“We are disappointed that Secretary Clinton is now opposed to this deal—a deal that is certain to lead to more opportunity, jobs, and wealth for America’s middle class.”