Following news today that U.S. car sales hit a record high in 2015, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) warned that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) threatens to turn back the recovery and hurt auto jobs.
“Today’s news that auto sales are at a record high is proof that the auto recovery worked and auto workers in Ohio and across the country are key to growing our economy. To continue that progress and protect jobs, we must ensure a level playing field for America’s auto suppliers, but TPP and its weak auto provisions stand to roll back recovery and cost Ohio jobs, so we must continue fighting for a better deal for American auto jobs.”
As the U.S. and 11 other countries negotiated the TPP, Brown was an outspoken advocate for a strong auto chapter that would level the playing field for U.S. automobile manufacturers and workers. In September, he penned a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman urging him to negotiate an agreement that holds Japan to its commitment to phase out its tariffs in accordance with the longest staging period, use NAFTA-based rules of origin as a basis for TPP, and include provisions to remove non-tariff barriers, including currency manipulation.
Brown also wrote to Froman in December 2014 highlighting the impact of TPP on the auto industry and outlining similar concerns over tariffs, country of origin labeling, and currency.
