Trade negotiators from the United States, Vietnam and six other Asia Pacific nations meet in San Francisco this week for work on a free-trade agreement that U.S. trade officials say could transform the region, according to Reuters. But beyond the rhetoric, business groups are looking for significant new export opportunities, while critics of past trade deals say the proposed pact must be more than "NAFTA in the Asia Pacific," referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement they blame for U.S. job losses to Mexico. If the hopes of President Barack Obama are met, the deal would satisfy both, ushering in a new era of trade agreements in the region with stronger protections for workers and the environment while still opening new markets to U.S. exports. "The president and I intend for the Trans-Pacific Partnership to be our first 21st century trade agreement," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told the United States Asia Pacific Council in a recent speech. "One that creates and retains U.S. jobs, integrates U.S. companies in Asia-Pacific production and supply chains, and promotes new technologies and emerging economic sectors," he added. Still, a broad coalition of labor, environmental and trade activist groups are planning a rally in San Francisco on Monday to keep pressure on the Obama administration to negotiate a deal that pays attention to their concerns. Although starting with just eight countries, the United States hopes the pact will eventually cover all members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, including China. -- SPA
