‘Landing zones’ for completing TPP

With the year-end 2013 deadline for completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) now passed, the focus has shifted to completing the talks ahead of a visit by President Obama to Asia planned for April 2014. Although TPP negotiators are said to have identified potential compromises or “landing zones” on key outstanding issues last December, they have not yet agreed to them. One of the key obstacles is a stalemate that has developed between the U.S. and Japan over market access issues relating to agricultural and automotive products. In addition to the unresolved issues, it remains to be seen how the lack of a clear path forward on Trade Promotion Authority in Congress will affect TPP negotiations. The United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI), a division of IFAI, continues to be actively involved in monitoring TPP negotiations and providing needed input.