In a joint statementissued on March 8 following the TPP Stakeholder Event, which wasattended by business representatives, government negotiators and otherrepresentatives of civil society, the 10 business chambers and leadingbusiness organisations urged negotiators to show flexibility and narrowthe range of differences so that the negotiations can be brought toconclusion as soon as possible.
“It is to the businesses’interest that the negotiation should be concluded sooner than later sothat companies could benefit and help their businesses to grow,” thestatement quoted Ho Meng Kit, Chief Executive Officer of the SingaporeBusiness Federation, as saying.
Business organisationssupporting the call to bring TPP to a substantive conclusion as soon aspossible include the Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce, CanadianAgri-food Trade Alliance, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters,Emergency Committee for American Trade, Foreign Trade Association ofPeru, National Center for APEC, New Zealand International BusinessForum, Singapore Business Federation, US-ASEAN Business Council andVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“We support TPPbecause it can provide the framework which enables business to createthe conditions for growth in the region”, said Calman Cohen, Presidentof the Emergency Committee for American Trade, in the statement.
“TPPis about eliminating barriers to trade and investment, reducing thecosts of doing business and enhancing the operation of regional supplychains,” he said adding that addressing these issues will allowbusiness to invest, expand and support and create jobs.
Thestatement added that Hoang Van Dung, First Vice President of theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that with the highquality and inclusive nature, the TPP should benefit all participatingparties.
Jayson Myers, President & CEO of CanadianManufacturers & Exporters, said in the statement: “The bottom lineis that businesses need a comprehensive and ambitious TPP that opens upopportunities, strengthens trade rules and improves business conditionsin the region just as much as the world trading system needs a 21stcentury trade agreement that effectively addresses behind the borderissues.”
The 11 TPP members are Australia , Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia , Mexico , New Zealand, Peru , Singapore,the United States , and Vietnam.-VNA