[CTC] Business Revamps TPP Lobbying Effort; Kickoff Slated For March 14

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Inside U.S. Trade - 03/04/2016
Business Revamps TPP Lobbying Effort; Kickoff Slated For March 14
March 03, 2016

U.S. business associations are trying to inject new life into their lobbying efforts for Congress and the administration to advance the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by bolstering the existing U.S. Coalition for TPP, with a kickoff event planned for March 14, according to industry sources.

The changes to the coalition entail promoting five major U.S. business associations that are already part of the coalition to co-chairs; expanding and reorganizing working groups; and having the Business Roundtable (BRT) contribute its lobbyists to the coalition's efforts, sources said.

Some sources said they see these as cosmetic changes aimed at sending the message that U.S. business groups are committed to moving TPP despite the reluctance of the Republican leadership in Congress. That message is likely aimed at currying favor with the Obama administration so that it is more willing to address problems with the TPP identified by U.S. companies, they said.

Besides the BRT, the other business associations that will co-chair the coalition are the Emergency Committee for American Trade, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the change, the only leadership structure was that ECAT served as the secretariat of the coalition and there were between seven and nine company co-chairs, according to ECAT President Calman Cohen. At least one of these co-chairs suspended its participation in the coalition due to its objections to the final TPP deal.

The four working groups under the revamped coalition will cover Congress; the executive branch and TPP embassies; communications; and policy and grassroots, sources said. 

Under the modified structure, the associations will divide up responsibilities and take leadership roles on specific working groups, such as the BRT on lobbying.

Cohen said in a Feb. 25 interview that previously the associations were working independently and would only come together for coalition meetings on specific issues.

In leading the working group on Congress, BRT will contribute its lobbyists from Peck Madigan Jones who fought for passage of fast track last year, sources said.

These changes are not likely to settle the underlying competition between the BRT and Chamber on which group will spearhead the TPP lobbying push, one business source said. 

Under the revamped coalition, the Chamber has been designated the executive coordinator of the coalition.

In addition, the BRT will maintain the separate Trade Benefits America Coalition it leads and which includes the same business associations that are now co-chairs of the U.S. Coalition for TPP. The Trade Benefits America Coalition, which was originally formed to push for fast track, is now focusing on lauding the benefits of trade more generally, sources said.

In a Feb. 25 interview, Cohen said the associations decided to reorganize the U.S. Coalition for TPP at this time in order to pool their efforts and work more effectively to ensure that Congress passes TPP this year. 

He drove home the point that, in order for this to happen, the Obama administration needs to address problems flagged by lawmakers and U.S. companies including the monopoly period for biologic drugs, financial services data localization, the carveout of tobacco control measures from investor-state dispute settlement, and Japanese pork subsidies. 

"If those issues are addressed, I see the Republican leadership in particular, but across the board, putting the votes together to get it done this year," he said. 

According to Cohen, the BRT will be canvassing members of Congress to find out what "concerns" they have with TPP and what additional information they might need. But he stressed that other associations like NAM and ECAT will continue to meet with lawmakers as well, given that each group has different relationships with different members.


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