Marin native Froman is Obama’s point man on trade deal opposed by left wing
By Richard Halstead
A political showdown is imminent on a multinational trade agreement that has been championed by Marin County native Michael Froman, the U.S. trade representative since 2013.
Originally conceived during the administration of George W. Bush, the Trans-Pacific Partnership has been expanded from four Asian countries to 12 countries on both sides of the Pacific stretching from Peru and Chile to Japan and Vietnam, and accounting for 40 percent of global economic activity.
Both the House and Senate are currently considering a trade promotion bill that would give President Obama “fast-track” authority to submit trade agreements such as TPP to Congress and receive a yes-or-no vote without amendments. Passage of the fast-track bill is viewed as essential to the eventual adoption of the TPP.
Robert Eyler, head of the Marin Economic Forum and a professor at Sonoma State University, said the TPP could benefit high tech, biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the North Bay.
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