What is at stake? It is estimated that a delay in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would result in an estimated $94 billion loss for the U.S. economy, in the first year alone. If the TPP is not passed this year, there is a serious risk our TPP partners will move on to sign more deals with other countries that exclude the United States. Most notably, negotiations to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - a lower-standard, less ambitious trade negotiation involving 16 Asia-Pacific countries - would accelerate. This would be a huge loss for U.S. growth, jobs and credibility in the region, and around the world.
Despite efforts of trade naysayers, there is a path to TPP passage this year. Pro-trade leaders in Congress are still fighting hard for the TPP - but they will need a lot of support over the coming weeks. Our success as trade proponents and TPP advocates depends on continuing to make the case for trade and the TPP in the days before and right after Election Day, pressing Congressional leaders and members of Congress to act on the TPP during the lame duck session.
Outlined below are a number of actions we ask you to take in the weeks ahead to make the case for trade and Congressional passage of the TPP this year. You and your members (in the case of organizations) - and your employees and suppliers (in the case of companies) - are each vital to: (1) localizing and personalizing the importance of trade and the TPP to your members of Congress; and (2) countering the anti-trade rhetoric and aggressive efforts to kill the TPP.
So what do we need you to do before and after the election?
Between now and the days following Election Day, we need you to:
- SIGN ON: Take a moment, by 5 p.m. EST on November 7, to have your organization join a business community letter to all members of Congress, urging them to support the TPP's passage this year.
- Set aside some time: (1) before and particularly on November 9 and 10 to CALL Congressional leaders who you know and other members of Congress; and (2) participate in one or more ways in a "day of action" on November 15 or 16 (final date to be determined) to urge Congress to pass the TPP this year (Sign up here to participate).
- Engage on social media and express support by texting "passTPP" to 52886 or calling 202-751-4589. (Please click here to get more details on how you can help out).
- Continue educating your members (in the case of organizations) or your employees and suppliers (in the case of companies) and prepare them to also be ready on November 9 to contact their members of Congress and to also participate in the "day of action" on November 15 or 16; and
- Speak out forcefully - through public remarks, op-eds, letters to the editor, etc. - on why Congress needs to pass the TPP this year.
Planning ahead, on November 9 and 10 (when Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan may decide whether or not to take up the TPP), we will need you to:
- Personally call: (1) those Congressional leaders you know, urging them to take up the TPP in the lame duck; and (2) your members of Congress, asking them to both urge Congressional leaders to take it up and to vote for the TPP during the lame duck session;
- Personally call or have your staff call key members of Congress who can weigh in with Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan (contact Rayna Valenti at Business Roundtable for suggestions) asking them to: (1) urge Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to take up the TPP; and (2) vote for the TPP if it comes up in the lame duck session;
- Encourage your members (in the case of organizations) or your employees and suppliers (in the case of companies) to contact their members of Congress, similarly asking them to talk to Congressional leaders and vote for the TPP if it comes up during lame duck; and
- Continue speaking out forcefully - through public remarks, op-eds, letters to the editor, etc. - on why Congress needs to pass the TPP this year.
We need your company or association to call on Congress to take up TPP in the lame duck. If the Congressional Republican leadership decides to take up the TPP during the lame duck session, then we will need you to continue reaching out to your members of Congress and encouraging your members or your employees and suppliers to also do so. To help you with your efforts, a detailed advocacy toolkit, with TPP background, talking points and social media content, can be found here and accessed using the password: passTPP.
Lastly, please continue to share updates on your activities with the TPP Coalition so we stay coordinated. If the TPP Coalition can help with your activities in any way, please contact Rayna Valenti at Business Roundtable: [email protected] or 202-496-3289.
Thank you for your continued efforts.