WASHINGTON, DC — The National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons issued the following statement on the conclusion of the final round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which, after many years, yielded a final deal:

“The latest weak jobs report and the disappointing growth in the United States and globally underscore the urgent need to open new markets for manufacturers and all Americans. Today’s conclusion of the TPP agreement has the potential to reverse these trends if the deal achieves the priorities that the NAM has fought hard for years to accomplish. A good deal must level the playing field and improve the competitiveness of manufacturers and their workers in the United States.

“While we are still reviewing the full terms of the TPP, manufacturers are appreciative of the tireless work of U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and the entire U.S. negotiating team. From the beginning, manufacturers have been loud and clear on the TPP: A strong agreement must embrace priorities that will grow manufacturing in the United States. Those priorities include concrete new market access, the protection of intellectual property, provisions to enable e-commerce and a level playing field, fair treatment and strong property and investment protection standards, all of which must be enforceable for all industries. We look forward to examining all of the details of this agreement to assess whether it will significantly enhance manufacturers’ ability to grow and compete on a level playing field.”