"The US-ASEAN Business Council wecomes President Obama's commitment to the TPP and the steps forward that were taken in Hawaii today," said Alexander Feldman, President of the US-ASEAN Business Council. "It's vital that, as negotiations continue, that the US and other negotiating partners continue their support for the orignal framework of the TPP, which sets out to be a comprehensive, high-standards agreement which supports IPR and the continued elimination of barriers to invesmtent throughout the Asia-Pacific."

The TPP aims to create a free trade zone which covers more than 40% of global trade. The TPP is a unique agreement which can benefit every state in the U.S. by expanding exports to 4 key ASEAN partners. ASEAN is currently the 4th largest export market for the United States, supporting over 425,000 American Jobs. The TPP will have a significant, positive impact on continued growth for American companies and additional employment for American workers.

ASEAN Stakeholders including business associations across Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam share the desire of U.S. business to see a high-standards, comprehensive FTA. The US-ASEAN Business Council looks to work with our counterparts in ASEAN and the US as the agreement moves forward to ensure a successful outcome which creates jobs and economic growth in all nine nations.

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The US-ASEAN Business Council represents over 100 major U.S. Corporations, ranging from those who have been active in Southeast Asia for over 100 years to newcomers looking to expand their presence in one of the world's most dynamic markets. The Council's sectoral working groups, including Customs, Defense & Security, Energy, Financial Services, Food and Agriculture, Health & Life Sciences, Information & Communications Technology, and Infrastructure, bring together the pre-eminent companies in their fields to enable high-level dialogues that help resolve issues and drive innovation and investment. With long-established personal and professional relationships in ASEAN and Washington, the Council is the most effective conduit between decision-makers on both sides of the Pacific.

Learn how we are connecting American business to Southeast Asia at www.usasean.org.

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For Further Information Please contact Anthony Nelson at anelson@usasean.org.