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SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL: San Antonio Congressman To Break Party Ranks Over Trans Pacific Partnership

San Antonio, January 27, 2016

Tags: Trade

San Antonio congressman to break party ranks over Trans Pacific Partnership

by: Sergio Chapa

Congressman Henry Cuellar is going against party politics in favor of supporting some of the major industries of South Texas.

During a recent visit to the San Antonio Business Journal, Cuellar, D-Laredo, said he is breaking Democrat Party ranks to vote in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

The historic and controversial trade deal is expected to create one of the largest trading blocs in the world but must first be ratified by Congress before the United States can participate.

Representatives from the United States and 11 other nations are expected to meet in New Zealand on Feb. 4 to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Under the deal, goods and services would flow with less barriers between the United States and other Pacific Rim nations such as Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Critics say it will hurt the environment and take away jobs in the United States.

Cuellar argues that the deal is good for Texas. The congressman's vast district, which stretches from the Rio Grande Valley to Laredo and through the Eagle Ford Shale to San Antonio, depends largely on international trade and commerce. He said he supports the bill because it will help the energy sector, agriculture and other exports.

"We gotta do it because it represents 40 percent of the world's economic output," Cuellar said.

"In many ways, it's like NAFTA 2.0," Cuellar added.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2016/01/27/san-antonio-congressman-to-break-party-ranks-over.html