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Senators urge Trump to re-engage in TPP

A group of 25 U.S. senators has sent a letter to President Trump supporting his recent comments about re-engaging in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was among those signing the letter.

“It seems to me that this letter, signed by such a large number of our fellow members, shows that there is still great interest in TPP in Congress,” Grassley says. “Access to markets included in the TPP would be critical for growth and revenue for agricultural producers over the next several decades. So I look forward to working with my colleagues to find a new way forward for the U.S. to re-engage the other 11 countries in TPP.”

AUDIO: Grassley comments on Trump and TPP

In a recent interview with CNBC, Trump indicated he might reconsider his stance on TPP.

“I would do TPP if were able to make a substantially better deal. The deal was terrible.  The way it was structured was terrible,” Trump said. “If we did a substantially better deal, I would be open to TPP.”

In their letter, the senators encourage Trump to “work aggressively” to secure reforms that would allow the U.S. to join the agreement.

Other senators from Brownfield states who signed the letter are Mike Rounds of South Dakota; Roy Blunt of Missouri; Ben Sasse of Nebraska; Ron Johnson of Wisconsin; Joni Ernst of Iowa; and Todd Young of Indiana.