During January 13-15, 2016, the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) held hearings concerning the likely impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (“TPP”) on the U.S. economy. Witnesses from a variety of governments, industry groups, companies, labor organizations, and academic institutions offered testimony and responded to questions from the Commissioners. The ITC will use the information gathered during the hearings (along with information from the pre-hearing submissions, post-hearing briefs, and filed statements) to prepare a report on the expected impact of the Agreement.

Background -

As has been widely reported, the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam concluded TPP negotiations on October 5, 2015 and released the final text of the Agreement a month later. On November 5, 2015, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) notified the ITC that President Obama intended to sign TPP. As required under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, USTR requested that the ITC prepare a report for the President and Congress on the Agreement, particularly considering the impact on the U.S. gross domestic product, exports and imports, employment, and industries significantly affected by the Agreement. In accordance with the request, the ITC announced that in late December 2015, interested parties should file pre-hearing submissions and requests to appear at the public hearing.