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<div class=Section1>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;font-weight:
bold'>SENATORS WRITE TO U.S. TRADE REP. IN ADVANCE OF TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP
NEGOTIATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=gray face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=gray face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:gray;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Sens. Urge Obama Administration to Utilize TPP as <st1:place
w:st="on">Opportunity</st1:place> to Chart a New Course <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=gray face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:gray;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>in Trade Policy that Creates <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> Jobs and Upholds Human Rights<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'>WASHINGTON</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black'> <st1:State w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State> - In advance of the first
round of new negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), scheduled to
begin Monday in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> Senators
Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Russell D. Feingold (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and
Patty Murray (D-WA) urged the Obama administration to chart a new course
forward on trade agreements.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>In a letter
sent today to U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk, the senators urged him to
use "TPP as an opportunity for the Obama Administration to re-shape our
use of trade policy as a tool to create good American jobs while promoting
economic opportunity and fundamental human rights and democratic principles
among trade partners."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>The senators
requested further information on two areas of concern: 1) the economic merits
of a prospective regional agreement with TPP countries; and 2) how TPP
negotiations could serve as leverage to promote human and labor rights and
democratic reforms in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brunei</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>A full copy of
the letter can be found below:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>March 12, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>The Honorable Ronald Kirk<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>United States Trade Representative<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>Office of United States Trade Representative<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on"><i><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;font-style:
italic'>600 17th Street NW</span></font></i></st1:address></st1:Street><i><font
size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><i><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black;font-style:
italic'>Washington</span></font></i></st1:City><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>, <st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">20508</st1:PostalCode></span></font></i></st1:place><i><font size=2
color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>Dear Ambassador Kirk:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>We understand that the first round of new
negotiations on the will address the structure and scope of a prospective regional
trade agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>As the Administration's first major trade policy
initiative, the TPP will be the venue for President Obama to bring his message
of change to the issue of trade and to begin creating a new trade agreement
model that boosts prosperity and security at home and around the world. We see
the TPP as an opportunity for the Obama Administration to re-shape our use of
trade policy as a tool to create good American jobs while promoting economic
opportunity and fundamental human rights and democratic principles among trade
partners.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>As the TPP talks re-start, we request from you
further information and consultation on two areas of concern: the economic
merits of a prospective regional agreement with these partner countries, and
how the TPP negotiations or specific U.S. demands therein could serve as
leverage to promote human and labor rights and democratic reforms in Vietnam
and Brunei.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>The <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>
already has trade agreements with four of the seven potential TPP countries - <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Singapore</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Chile</st1:country-region>, and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region>. According
to government statistics, these four countries already comprise 86 percent of
the total combined $1.6 trillion GDP of the seven other countries engaged in
TPP talks. In addition, we note that one of the seven countries proposed as a
TPP partner, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
does not have a market economy. Vietnam, like several Asian countries, also
intentionally undervalues its currency, which poses severe challenges to
American producers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>Furthermore, the State Department's 2009 Report
on Human Rights Practices noted that workers in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region>
are prohibited from joining or forming any union that is not controlled by the
government of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
On political freedoms, the State Department reported that "[t]he
government [of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region>]
continued to crack down on dissent, arresting political activists and causing
several dissidents to flee the country." In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Brunei</st1:place></st1:country-region>, there is virtually "no
trade union activity in the country and there is no legal basis for either
collective bargaining or strikes," according to the International Trade
Union Confederation. We view the TPP negotiations as an opening to ensure that
any country seeking to be part of the TPP meet criteria with respect to labor
rights, democratic governance and other human rights.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>These challenges, however, represent
opportunities for the new Administration. We believe these negotiations are an
opportunity to redefine and redirect <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> trade policy. It is essential
that we rebalance our trade and globalization policies so that they reflect our
nation's democratic values are beneficial to our workers, consumers, farmers,
and firms.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:.5in'><i><font size=2
color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>Sherrod
Brown
Russell D. Feingold
<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>United States
Senator
United States
Senator
<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>Jeff
Merkley
Patty Murray<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=2 color=black
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:black;font-style:italic'>United States
Senator
United States Senator</span></font></i><i><font size=2 color=blue
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:blue;font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
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