Statement Of U.S. Conference Of Mayors President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake On Announcement Of Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Deal

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake issued the following statement today following announcement of the Trans Pacific Partnership  (TPP) Trade Deal:

"The United States Conference of Mayors congratulates the Obama Administration and U.S Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman on today's announcement that a trade deal has been reached with 11 nations as part of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.

"Increased exports have driven nearly one-third of our economic recovery and will continue to be instrumental to our future economic growth.  The nation's city and metro economies generate 88% of the nation's exports and 92% of overall growth.  TPP nations represent 40% of global Gross Domestic Product and our businesses and local economies need a level playing field to sell U.S. made products around the world.

"The Conference adopted policy at its 83rd Annual Conference of Mayors in San Francisco, June 2015, in support of both Trade Promotion Authority and a Trans Pacific Partnership deal that contains enforceable labor and environmental standards, a uniform tariff system, transparency, and protection of intellectual property rights.

"Most recently, the Conference underscored its support of the TPP in a press conference in Atlanta hosted by Mayor Kasim Reed with Ambassador Froman during the negotiations."  

About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

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SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors