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Hillary Clinton breaks with Obama to oppose Trans Pacific Partnership Hillary Clinton breaks with Obama to oppose Trans Pacific Partnership
(35 minutes later)
After months of prevarication, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton came out against the Trans Pacific Partnership (or TPP) trade deal on Wednesday. After months of prevarication, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton on Wednesday has come out against a landmark trade agreement reached earlier this week between the United States, Japan and 10 other countries circling the Pacific Ocean.
The trade agreement, which was finalized on Monday, would create one of the largest free trade areas in the world, including twelve countries circling the Pacific Ocean. The Trans Pacific Partnership (or TPP) trade deal, which would create one of the largest free trade areas in the world, had presented a political hurdle for Clinton, who promoted trade talks while serving as secretary of state but has since distanced herself from it as a presidential candidate, to court liberal voters, who strongly oppose the pact.
In an interview with PBS, Clinton said “as of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it”. The former secretary of state added, “I don’t have the text, we don’t yet have all the details, I don’t believe it’s going to meet the high bar I have set.” Clinton criticized it in particular for failing to address currency manipulation and because of her worries that “pharmaceutical companies may have gotten more benefits and patients and consumers got fewer”. In a taped interview with PBS’s NewsHour, Clinton said “as of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it”. The former secretary of state added, “I don’t have the text, we don’t yet have all the details, I don’t believe it’s going to meet the high bar I have set.”
Clinton criticized it in particular for failing to address currency manipulation and because of her worries that “pharmaceutical companies may have gotten more benefits and patients and consumers got fewer”.
The statement marks a reversal from Clinton, who had long been supportive of the agreement and played a leading role in its negotiation while serving as secretary of state, repeatedly expressing her support for the deal. In 2012, she told an audience in Australia, “This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field.”The statement marks a reversal from Clinton, who had long been supportive of the agreement and played a leading role in its negotiation while serving as secretary of state, repeatedly expressing her support for the deal. In 2012, she told an audience in Australia, “This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field.”
It also marks Clinton’s biggest departure so far in her campaign from the policies of the Obama Administration. On Monday, Obama praised the deal “as an agreement that reflects America’s values and gives our workers the fair shot at success they deserve.” The Clinton campaign gave advance notice on Wednesday that the candidate would come out against the deal, a White House official told the Guardian.It also marks Clinton’s biggest departure so far in her campaign from the policies of the Obama Administration. On Monday, Obama praised the deal “as an agreement that reflects America’s values and gives our workers the fair shot at success they deserve.” The Clinton campaign gave advance notice on Wednesday that the candidate would come out against the deal, a White House official told the Guardian.
“I still believe in the goal of a strong and fair trade agreement in the Pacific as part of a broader strategy both at home and abroad, just as I did when I was secretary of state,” Clinton said in a statement after the interview. “I appreciate the hard work that President Obama and his team put into this process and recognize the strides they made. But the bar here is very high and, based on what I have seen, I don’t believe this agreement has met it.”
Despite the Obama administration’s strong support for the trade agreement, Clinton’s two most vocal competitors in the Democratic field, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley have opposed the TPP. Organized labor and many liberal groups have also come out against the free trade deal as well. However, vice president Joe Biden, who is considering a bid for the White House, supports the agreement.Despite the Obama administration’s strong support for the trade agreement, Clinton’s two most vocal competitors in the Democratic field, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley have opposed the TPP. Organized labor and many liberal groups have also come out against the free trade deal as well. However, vice president Joe Biden, who is considering a bid for the White House, supports the agreement.
O’Malley immediately criticised Clinton’s change of stance on the deal, telling reporters on Wednesday: “Wow! That’s a reversal! I was against the Trans Pacific Partnership months and months ago ... Secretary Clinton can justify her own reversal of opinion on this, but I didn’t have one opinion eight months ago and switched that opinion on the eve of debates. I’m against the Trans Pacific Partnership. I let people know that from the outset.”O’Malley immediately criticised Clinton’s change of stance on the deal, telling reporters on Wednesday: “Wow! That’s a reversal! I was against the Trans Pacific Partnership months and months ago ... Secretary Clinton can justify her own reversal of opinion on this, but I didn’t have one opinion eight months ago and switched that opinion on the eve of debates. I’m against the Trans Pacific Partnership. I let people know that from the outset.”
The TPP has divided Republican presidential candidates, with a number of conservatives, including Donald Trump and Rick Santorum, vocally opposing it.The TPP has divided Republican presidential candidates, with a number of conservatives, including Donald Trump and Rick Santorum, vocally opposing it.
In June, a proposal to fast track the agreement, which means it can be amended and is subject only to an up and down vote, was initially derailed in Congress by a coalition of liberal Democrats and ardent Tea Partiers, over a dispute about giving government aid to companies that were hurt by free trade agreement. However, eventually a compromise was reached and the final agreement, once submitted to Congress, cannot be amended.In June, a proposal to fast track the agreement, which means it can be amended and is subject only to an up and down vote, was initially derailed in Congress by a coalition of liberal Democrats and ardent Tea Partiers, over a dispute about giving government aid to companies that were hurt by free trade agreement. However, eventually a compromise was reached and the final agreement, once submitted to Congress, cannot be amended.