FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 12, 2018
CONTACT: Erin Humiston, (972) 874-5139, or erin@IPI.org
DALLAS - The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) commends President Trump for directing U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and economic adviser Larry Kudlow to negotiate U.S. re-entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
“The TPP was a carefully designed and negotiated trade agreement, designed to keep the U.S. at the center of Pacific trade," said IPI president Tom Giovanetti. “Demagoguing against the TPP was a mistake, and withdrawing from the agreement ceded trade leadership in the region to China, essentially endorsing China’s trade practices, which include intellectual property theft and onerous domestic ownership conditions.”
“The best way to address China’s cheating and other harmful trade practices is a vigorous TPP agreement, as well as thorough use of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute resolution process,” said Giovanetti. “These strategies address China’s misbehavior in a strategic way, as oppose to tariffs, which actually punish U.S. consumers and harm the U.S. economy.”
“IPI, which participated in several of the TPP negotiating sessions, will be delighted to resume our policy coverage and advocacy of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement,” he said.
The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) is an independent, nonprofit public policy organization based in Dallas. IPI president Tom Giovanetti is available for interview by contacting Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139, or erin@ipi.org.
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