US President and Congress asked to hurry up with TPP trade deal

The American Farm Bureau Federation, the Coalition of Services Industries, the Information Technology Industry Council and the National Association of Manufacturers called on the president and congressional leadership to work together to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement by year-end.

In a letter, presidents of the four groups laid out the important benefits expected to accrue from the deal – an accord that will give American farms, ranches and companies access to nearly 500 million consumers in the Asia-Pacific region.

"As the most productive industries in the world, our enterprises need access to new consumers and markets to sustain, let alone grow, production and good-paying jobs," the groups wrote. "Yet, U.S. industries face increasing competition as our global competitors are benefitting from trade deals that exclude and disadvantage the United States. …The status quo is not acceptable for industries that need new markets to sustain and grow our workforces in the United States."

Click here to read the full letter.