The U.S. Secretary for Agriculture said Friday that the new Trans Pacific Partnership is key to the future of Oregon’s economy.
Tom Vilsack is campaigning to give President Barack Obama trade promotion authority, something he said has been afforded to every president since Franklin Roosevelt.
If the president has trade promotion authority, Congress can only take an up or down vote, without amendments, on trade agreements like the Trans Pacific Partnership.
“We have two great opportunities to expand trade, particularly one that will benefit Oregon, and that’s the Trans Pacific Partnership, an opportunity to potentially add an additional $10 billion dollars of export opportunities," he said.
"There’s just tremendous market opportunity there," said Vilsack.
Oregon has emerged as a focal point for the issue.
President Obama was in Oregon last month to rally support.
The head of the AFL-CIO also came in opposition. Richard Trumka said the union’s not opposed to all trade agreements, but it is opposed to what it deems bad trade agreements, like the Trans Pacific Partnership.
The Senate passed trade promotion authority last month. The House is expected to vote on the issue within the next couple of weeks.
Copyright 2015 Oregon Public Broadcasting
