Proponents of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement assert it will open new markets for U.S. goods and services, and help the American worker.  We conclude the opposite: It’s a bad deal for America and should be rejected by Congress.

This deal benefits multinational corporations producing in Asia, and clearly helps the Asian workers at the expense of American jobs. Also, Americans will pay higher prices for some products.

Nike is a big TPP supporter, not because it will help the shoemaker create more jobs in America, but because its production in Asia will benefit, where it enjoys tax benefits and cheap, non-union labor. The Obama Administration says it opposes outsourcing; so this makes no sense at all.

The TPP hurts American competitiveness in a number of industries –automotive parts, metals, consumer electronics, software, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, and others. Our world-leading service sector, including internet and credit card transactions, will suffer increased outsourcing to nations with lower wages and taxes.

All this because the U.S.  Executive Branch negotiators decided winners and losers – another example of crony capitalism, favoritism, and the corruptive power of the lobbyists.

Meanwhile, Congress was totally kept out-of-the loop, because of the TPA passed in June. Congressional members are now saying “we’ll have to read the deal to see what’s in it” (sound familiar?) – confirming that the TPP, like the Iran Deal, was done without consulting the elected representatives of “we-the-people.” 

In pharmaceuticals, some noble goals are met.  The TPP will help reduce prices for medicines in rural areas of Asia – and assist the work of “Doctors without Borders.” But some of this is at the expense of American Drug companies – and, by extension, American consumers.