Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, today urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to support Mexico’s inclusion in the negotiations toward the creation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Cuellar, who is also Chairman of the Pro-trade Caucus, authored a letter that gained the support of 27 bipartisan lawmakers to Ambassador Kirk which cited Mexico’s vital role as a trade partner to the United States and in the global economy to become part of the TPP negotiations.

“Mexico and the United States share more than a border. We share more than 100 years of history, and strong cultural and economic ties,” said Cuellar. “As a U.S.-Mexico border congressman I understand the importance of these ties on a day to day basis. Our economies are mutually beneficial and we can only grow stronger if we include our second largest export market in this trade partnership. ”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicates that trade with Mexico accounts for approximately 6 million American jobs, which could mean that more trade with Mexico will help boost job creation in the United States. According to the Secretariat of the Economy of Mexico, Mexico is the second largest export market for the United States, accounting for nearly $200 billion in consumption of U.S. goods in 2010. In this same year, U.S. exports to Mexico increased $34 billion, which helped with GDP growth. 

“The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade network stands to benefit from having Mexico, one of the world’s top ten economies, on the negotiation table,” said Cuellar. “I look forward to continue working with Ambassador Kirk and with my colleagues in Congress who have signed on to support Mexico’s inclusion in this critical trade agreement.”

The letter sent to Ambassador Kirk highlights the positive impact that Mexico’s entry into the TPP would have on the U.S. economy and on the partners that are already on the table of negotiations. It indicates that Mexico is clearly prepared to join the negotiations because its network of free trade agreements includes 44 nations that represent 70 percent of the global GDP. This network includes three TPP members, the United States, Chile and Peru and Mexico is among the top ten trading nations in the world.

The TPP includes trade agreements in industrial goods, agriculture and textiles, as well as provisions that will make the regulatory systems of TPP members more compatible so that United States companies can operate more seamlessly in TPP markets.  Part of the negotiation framework also includes new emerging trade issues such as trade and investment in innovative products and services, including digital technologies. (Source US Trade Representative)

TPP negotiations are ongoing and currently include the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. 

Members of Congress who co-signed the letter are: Francisco “Quico Canseco, R-TX; Mario Diaz-Balart, R-FL,; Jim Moran, D-VA; Lamar Smith, R-TX; Bob Filner, D-CA; Charles Gonzalez, D-TX; Steve Pearce, R-AZ; Blake Farenthold, R-TX; Gregory Meeks, D-NY; John R. Carter, R-TX; Trent Franks R-AZ; John Culberson, R-TX; Robert Andrews, D-NJ; Pete Olson, R-TX; Ralph Hall, R-TX; Kay Granger, R-TX; Ruben Hinojosa, D-TX; Pete Sessions, R-TX; Jeff Denham, R-CA; Peter King, R-NY; Jeff Flake, R-AZ; David Rivera, R-FL; Michael McCaul, R-TX; Albio Sires, D-NJ; Paul Gosar, R-AZ; Michael Conaway, R-TX; Silvestre Reyes, D-TX.