There is new momentum for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement among a dozen nations, as a result of last week’s U.S.-Japan talks, said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. During a Senate Finance hearing, Froman said the talks in Tokyo “identified a path forward on agriculture and autos, two of the most challenging areas.” Froman said progress with Japan “will provide significant momentum to the overall negotiations.”
Finance chairman Ron Wyden accused China of currency manipulation and unfair trade practices. “America must establish new rules to reflect today’s trade norms and enforce them,” he said. At least four other senators said they wanted currency manipulation addressed in the Trans-Pacific pact, said ipolitics, a Canadian-based news agency.