Obama should push ahead and mobilise support for the TPP

FOLLOWING a signing ceremony on Feb 4 in Auckland, New Zealand, the Obama administration has called on the Republican-controlled Congress to speed up the legislative process and approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement sooner than later.

Despite fierce opposition to the deal from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, US Trade Representative Michael Froman expressed confidence that the Republican leadership would cooperate with the White House in pressing forward with the trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries.

The TPP deal was concluded late 2015 after seven years of talks, but has not yet entered into force. The next step is for Congress to approve the accord and for the president to sign it. Mr Froman warned in Auckland of "economic consequences" if Congress didn't approve the TPP accord this year.