US business group urges Pacific trade pact in 2012
The Associated Press, Washington, the United States | Fri, 01/13/2012 11:48 AM
The US Chamber of Commerce wants the trans-Pacific trade pact that Washington is negotiating with eight other countries to be completed this year.
The chamber's president Thomas Donohue made the comment Thursday in his annual speech on the state of American business.
President Barack Obama has also urged completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership within 2012.
That's an ambitious deadline for an agreement that aims to not just to reduce tariffs but address labor rights and other issues.
Donohue also urged free trade deals with countries including Brazil, Egypt, India, and Indonesia.
He called for the US to negotiate bilateral investment treaties with China and India "to ensure that American investors are treated fairly overseas." (mtq)
