Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) today released the following statements after the Administration announced that the United States has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement:

“The TPP agreement was flawed in many respects, as all of the major presidential candidates recognized last year. But withdrawing from the TPP must be a first step, not a last one,” said Ranking Member Neal. “We need new rules and better enforcement to make trade a two-way street, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. I look forward to working with the President, my Congressional colleagues, and stakeholders as we develop a new trade policy that focuses on improving the lives of American families and workers.”

“The TPP had already failed from lack of Congressional and public support. Going forward, the U.S. needs a new direction for trade – one that creates jobs in America, reduces our trade deficit, raises wages and protects the environment, consumer safety, and public health,” said Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Pascrell. “Most congressional Republicans supported the trade agreements President Trump now says he wants to abandon. While Democrats have spent decades fighting bad trade deals, this is a Johnny-come-lately moment for the Republican party. I look forward to bringing them into the fold of fighting for American workers. Now is as good a time as any to start.”