Hillary Clinton came out in opposition of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal on Oct 7, in a move which will put her in opposition to the Obama administration. "As of today, I am not in favor of what I have learned about it. I don't believe it's going to meet the high bar I have set," Clinton said in an interview to Judy Woodruff in Iowa, reports PBS.
Regarded as the largest regional trade agreement, the Trans Pacific Partnership has the U.S., Japan and 10 other nations as signatories, as HNGN previously reported. The deal seeks to reduce trade barriers, and maintain labor and environmental standards while protecting intellectual property rights of various multinational corporations.
"I've tried to learn as much as I can about the agreement, but I'm worried. I'm worried about currency manipulation not being part of the agreement. We've lost American jobs to the manipulations that countries particularly in Asia have engaged in," said Clinton explaining her reservations against the bill, reports Time.
Clinton's opposition to the TPP is in sharp contrast to her earlier stand when - as secretary of state - she had supported it, speaking for it 45 times between 2010 and 2013, reports CNN.
"I did not work on TPP. I advocated for a multi-national trade agreement that would 'be the gold standard.' But that was the responsibility of the United States trade representative," said Clinton, explaining her earlier position to the CNN.
Giving specific reasons for her disapproval, Clinton said she did not agree with the currency manipulation enforcement, benefits for pharmaceutical companies and impacts on American workers in the TPP.
