The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement is an important initiative that is very much in the national interest of the United States from both an economic and national security standpoint. If Congress ratifies it, the trade pact will bring together 12 economies representing nearly 40 percent of world trade under common rules and stands to dramatically reduce trade barriers between the Americas and Asia.
At this event, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman, the chief trade negotiator of the United States and principal trade advisor to the president, discussed the opportunities and obstacles for implementing the TPP.
This lecture was sponsored by the Baker Institute International Economics Program.
Join the conversation online with #BakerTPP.
Agenda
5:30 pm — Reception
6:30 pm — Presentation
Welcome
The Honorable Edward P. Djerejian
Director, Baker Institute
Introduction
The Honorable James A. Baker, III
Honorary Chair, Baker Institute
Featured Speaker
The Honorable Michael Froman
United States Trade Representative
Question and Answer Session
Moderated by: Russell A. Green, Ph.D., Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics
Biography
Ambassador Michael Froman was sworn in as the 17th United States Trade Representative (USTR) on June 21, 2013. As USTR, he is President Barack Obama’s principal advisor, negotiator and spokesman on international trade and investment issues.
Froman leads the Office of the United States Trade Representative in its work to open global markets for U.S. goods and services, enforce America’s rights in the global trading system and foster development through trade. Key initiatives ongoing under his leadership are negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in the Asia Pacific; the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union; negotiation of agreements on services, information technology and trade facilitation at the World Trade Organization; and monitoring and enforcement of U.S. trade rights, including through the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center.
Froman previously served at the White House as assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs, where he was responsible for coordinating policy on international trade and finance, energy security and climate change, and development and democracy issues. He served as the U.S. Sherpa for the G20 and G8 summits, and staffed the president for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meetings. In addition, he chaired or co-chaired the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, the Transatlantic Economic Council, the U.S.-India CEO Forum and the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum.
Froman received a bachelor’s degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University, a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
