“I still think 2016 is the year to address that trade agreement,” Brady said. He acknowledged that concerns raised by lawmakers over TPP provisions on biologics, intellectual property rights and investor protections for US tobacco companies do need to be addressed. But, Brady said he is confident that the Obama administration will follow through on them.
Trade group also believes outstanding issues can be resolved. Issues could be addressed via side letters, clarifying parts of the agreement, and the administration’s statement of administrative action that will accompany the TPP implementing legislation. according to Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives at the National Foreign Trade Council, Charles Dittrich.
The TPP should be allowed to come into force among the current member states for a “few years of consolidation” said Singapore’s Ambassador to the US, Ashok Kumar Mirpuri at the same briefing. Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan have expressed interest in eventually joining TPP.
However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has repeatedly said he will not have his chamber vote on the TPP accord until after the Nov. elections and the prospect the matter could even be pushed into 2017 remains a real possibility at this stage, particularly should Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate after the November balloting.