Obama and Singapore Leader Advocate for Pacific Trade Deal During State Visit

By Timothy Gardner and Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON – During a state visit from Singapore’s Prime Minister, U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong passionately advocated for the advantages of the upcoming Trans-Pacific trade agreement.

Both nations are part of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Obama hopes Congress will endorse before he departs from office in January.

At a joint press conference, Obama and Lee emphasized that while apprehensions regarding the impact of globalization on American workers are valid, the U.S. cannot afford to retreat from trade initiatives.

"We are part of a global economy. We are not reversing that. It can’t be reversed because it is driven by technology … and the fact that the demand for products within our country means we need to source items from other regions," Obama stated. He dismissed claims that the U.S. could completely withdraw from global trade, calling such ideas "unrealistic."

The TPP is expected to face significant challenges in Congress. Many American voters associate trade agreements with the loss of manufacturing jobs, job outsourcing, and corporate interests taking precedence over environmental concerns.

Opposition to the trade pact has emerged from prominent presidential candidates, including Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

Obama expressed his eagerness to make a compelling case for the trade agreement to lawmakers from both parties following the presidential election on November 8, during Congress’s lame duck session before his successor takes office.

"I believe I’ve got the better argument," he remarked. "Hopefully, after the election and once the dust settles, there will be greater attention to the actual facts behind the deal, rather than it being viewed merely as a political symbol."

Obama contends that the TPP will address shortcomings from the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement while creating jobs by facilitating global access to U.S. products. The agreement seeks to enhance trade in 40 percent of the world’s economy and act as a counterbalance to China’s influence in Asia.

Lee framed the deal as critical to the United States’ engagement with Asia, likening a U.S. withdrawal to a bride failing to arrive at her wedding. "In terms of the economic benefits, the TPP is significant," he asserted. "The U.S. has put its reputation on the line regarding its involvement in the region."

He also warned that abandoning the trade deal could weaken U.S. relations with allies in Asia and lead Japan to question its reliance on the United States for security.