US Administration Asserts Position Over TPP Ratification

By Manik Mehta NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement will eventually be ratified by the US Congress despite growing uncertainty over its fate despite opposition from both presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Reinforcing the importance of the TPP to the US, US Assistant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pacific Affairs) Daniel Russel said the US was definitely interested in getting the TPP passed through the Congress and ratified. "The answer in every case from US officials –- from President (Barrack) Obama to Vice-President (Joe) Biden and Secretary of State (John) Kerry -– was an unequivocal expression of determination to do everything in the power of the administration to prevail on members of Congress to ratify this agreement as soon as our presidential election is over. "TPP is a good deal, and it’s a good deal for the American people, for the American worker, and for American business," he told Bernama at the New York Foreign Press Centre here Monday. He explained the US position on the TPP to visiting officials from the signatory countries, who attended a meeting between John Kerry and 10 ASEAN foreign ministers, as well as the ASEAN secretary-general, here last Friday. Russel described the TPP as a "critical pillar" in the strategic structure of the US's engagement and leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. "And to follow through with the deal that has been negotiated with quick ratification on the part of all 12 members, I believe is so compelling in each of our interests. "I retain a high degree of confidence that our respective Parliaments at the end of the day will do what's best for our countries and do what's best for the region," he said. Russel said the bottom line was that the return on investments that the Obama Administration has made through years of diplomatic spadework across Asia Pacific. "I can say that we're all determined to sustain the momentum that we've built up in this critical region in order to hand to the next administration a strategic blueprint for fostering and furthering American interests and the collective interests of the entire region. "There is (also) a profound interest among other countries, many other countries –- some of whom have declared this – in pursuing the possibility of joining TPP in the second round," he said. A number of leaders from the Asia-Pacific region visiting New York for the United Nations General Assembly have reminded the US administration of the importance and urgency of finalising the TPP. In another development, Russel pointed out that US politicians and diplomats had discussed the importance of Asia-Pacific issues in meetings with partners in the region. Concerns were raised over the threats posed by North Korea, Daesh, as well as the South China Sea disputes, violent extremism from intolerance and religious frictions, global refugee crisis, illegal migration, ill-treatment of migrants, trafficking in human beings, and climate change. -- BERNAMA