ambassador froman responded and he gave us his assurances. he knowledge that there is a chapter on the temporary -- but this chapter only includes quote good governance provisions on transparency with respect to visa processing and cooperation on border security end of quote. he also said this chapter includes commitments of other tpp parties to make information on requirements for temporary entry publicly available. the u.s. already is very transparent about our processes and visa requirements and also already processes visas as expeditiously as possible. in addition to the latter from ambassador froman chairman hatch's agree to work with me on language that will be included in a comforting report to make it clear that congress does not condone ustr negotiating immigration or visa provisions. while i will not offer my amendment today i will keep options open to offer this amendment on the floor but only if necessary. thank you members of the committee. >> thank you senator grassley. senator cardin. >> a few mr. chairman. i would like to call

trade representative michael froman. >> translator: i want to make it possible for the leaders of the two countries to say at their summit that they welcome the progress made in our tpp talks. that's my goal. >> japanese and u.s. officials held three levels of discussions through friday and talked about issue including the amount of american rice japan would import and u.s. tariffs on cars and auto parts. the officials made some progress and says that's why he decided to meet with froman. >> japanese government officials have drawn up bills that will outline situation that is would justify exercising the right to collective self-defense. for decades they agreed japan has that right, but they interpreted the constitution as forbidding its use. now, prime minister abe is pushing to expand the role of the self-defense forces. members of the ruling coalition are focusing on the definition of armed attacks that would fall under the collective self-defense umbrella. one of the bills stipulates that would include armed attacks against closely related countries and circumstances when japan wo

he says he will meet again with froman, if necessary.he added the possibility of concluding a tpp deal by year end is higher now. the u.s. has also issued some positive signs assistant secretary of state for east asian and pacific affairs, daniel russell says an agreement is within reach. >> i think every leader and every trade minister among the 12 is determined to close on this deal this year. chief working-level negotiators are set to meet again on thursday for four days of talks in the u.s. >> translator: there are 12 member countries involved in these tpp talks. we have discussed a very wide range of field ss. issues in some fields still need to be addressed. >> deleges will work on rules for intellectual property rights including the duration of drug patent protections. shinzo abe and barack obama are hoping to confirm progress in the negotiations at their summit next week. >>> checking the markets, tokyo stocks have your honor ss have turned positive recovering. the nikkei average was up 1.4% closing at 19,909. investors snapped u

ambassador froman responded and gave us his assurances. he acknowledged that there is a chapter on the temporary enter persons, but this only includes quote, good governance provisions on transparency with respect to visa processing and cooperation on border security. end of quote. he also said that this chapter includes commitments of other tpp parties to make information on requirements for temporary entry publicly slabl.available. the u.s. is transparent on its requirements and visas, and already processes visas as expeditiously as possible. in addition to the letter from ambassador froman chairman hatch has agreed to work with me on language that will be included in the accompanying report to make it clear that congress does not condone usdr negotiating immigration or visa provision provisions. while i will not offer my amendment today, i will keep option open to offer this amendment on the floor, but only if necessary. thank you, members of the committee. >> thank you senator grassley. senator? >> thank you mr. chairman. i would like

we've been working on it, especially mike froman with the president's strong backing. this is the time to move. as you referred to. a lot of things happen in the fourth quarter. we certainly believe this is the moment for this one. >> thank you. you want to jump in on any of the issues? >> i want to agree wholeheartedly that this is the window of opportunity and i wanted to inject two words that i haven't quite heard in the conversation peace and stability. because we're talking about security. and here, as i was hearing you speak, i mean, that's also what undergirds all of this. because when you do have a paradigm, you do have rules, and you have an order here, it is only going to account to that and there will be conflicts that arise when you don't have them. >> when i spoke to you at the atlantic council -- >>> the committee will come to order. thank you for your patience. i know you're all very busy. the chair would like to notify members, remind members that no subcommittee will start until the full committee is finished. we do have two subcommittees that are plan

trade rep in mike froman, and secretary's use of commercial diplomacy is one of the bright things that really going on in our approach to world affairs. i it recognizes we have -- i think it recognizes we made the transition from 20th century problem-solving to 21st 21st century problem-so muching the 20th century was pipe -- bipolar sister. in the 21st century globalization is the reality, and the relationship, particularly in this country, between the and can private sector is on a course of convergence versus divergence. one of the sectors that is universally admired and recognize it is the american private sector, and when you think about the developing world and the growth of africa and what is going on, even dealing with the problems of mr. putin is causing, a large part of the solutions are economic. when you think about it. energy security is something i've been convinced is not only going to be one of the united states' strongest hold cards in the future, but -- hole card inside the future but a way of showing leader palestine a more globalized world that recognizes the import

now, i asked this question several times of ambassador froman when he was here before the committee. and he assured me in his testimony that there would be a vote. well, if that's the position of the administration, then there is no harm to guarantee that that position is here and the tpp -- tpa. why not simply adopt the amendment and make it very clear that in the future china or anybody else who's not in power today is going to vote. that has been loudly argued by my colleagues on a whole host of things. i see it as totally appropriate here as well. >> let me just say this. i'm prepared to vote on this. i hope the people will vote against it. i believe that this agreement is a well done agreement. and under the circumstances better than i ever thought it would be. and frankly we have the support of the president. we have to have the support of the house of representatives fighting for that. and i hope our colleagues will vote this down. >> mr. chairman, i would just add with all due respect this is a really important amendment and i would urge colleagues to vote yes. >> clerk will

, members of the senate who are saying this could open up a whole new can of worms and ambassador froman said it -- there are prudential exceptions in the language put forward, this is a tool that has not been used a lot in the past. there's some question that it's being ramped up and potentially could undermine our labor environmental and other laws. do want to make a comment? >> senator it's an issue that that can't stand the argument. it's so much stronger than the argument when you look at it. there are 3,000 trade agreements that have these provisions and we have never lost -- never lost one of these issues. they have no authority to impede on federal law. new -- if we ever lost a negotiation, it would be somebody would have to pay our money. but it is -- it's been in trade agreements and provides a rational way to address issues and the only reason anyone would bring this up is a reason not to do what we're about to do here is because they didn't want to do it. this argument doesn't carry the water. and i think it's very important to understand something. the people that -- and i r

trade rep in mike froman and i think the secretary's use of global diplomacy or commercial diplomacy is one of the

froman?nows what's there, the number of organizations that have been involved and select people who know exactly what the detail is. this is not what democracy looks like. this is not fair in a democracy. the president told me to trust him on health care and we never got the public option. the president gave indications on the campaign trail to go after wall street he didn't do that. now he's telling us, well, trust me on the biggest trade deal that covers 40% of the gross domestic product of this entire world, and yet, we can't get answers. you tried to slow down fast track yesterday in the senate. what's the latest on this? what happens now senator? >> it left the committee with 26 to vote yes. we expect to get to the floor not next week but the following week. and you're going to see a free for all. >> hold on senator. we've got to go to president obama. he's talking about trade right now live. here it is. >> why this is important. 95% of the world's customers are outside of the united sta

this administration, or froman, or anybody connected with this. one more thing i do want to point out that is a fact. there is not a buy american clause in this trade deal. and most of this agreement does not deal with trade. only about 20% of what's written is i'm told what's part of the trade. so what's your reaction to the lack of facts, but yet the president is saying trust me on this, i'm for the middle class. what's your reaction to all of this? >> i think the president is for the middle class. the president eight years ago said he'd renegotiate the north american free trade agreement because he recognized that it didn't work. this is not much different from the north american free trade agreement. a few different bells and whistles. but we know what it does. we know that it will cost us jobs. and the first president bush said -- his economic team said that for every billion dollars in trade deficit, you lose 13,000 jobs. that's what we've seen. we've seen our trade deficit since. >> but you don't know what facts the president's talking abou

trade representative, froman, ism -- talking now.are saying that they have reached some progress on these contentious trade topics. we know that the main sticking points are opening the japanese farm market, but also getting rid of some tree barriers in the american auto sector. they are saying that the working-level discussions have led to some progress. we still do not have the details, but we will find out. angie: farmers are the biggest hurdle for japan right now. >> yes. this is a policy that has helped sustain japan's 1.2 million farmers. they have imports as high as 778% tax on imports of rice. that is a huge deal that they they areet rid of saying that they cannot ignore a resolution with japanese lawmakers that says that a trade deal should not undermine sustainability of rice reduction -- production by later -- by local farmers. angie: how much pressure is it on all of these negotiators that china is now in the forefront of the region's mind? shery: it looks like they are under quite some pressure. they have been vocal abou

trade representative michael froman. the archive also shows close ties between sony and the rand corporation, a military thinktank whose board members include sony pictures entertainment ceo michael lynton. in the latest tragedy facing african migrants seeking passage to europe, italian police have arrested 15 migrants they say threw christians overboard in the mediterranean sea. authorities say the muslim migrants attacked christians from nigeria and ghana. the killings followed news of a shipwreck which killed another 41 migrants. president obama has signed the so-called "doc fix" law to overhaul how doctors receive payment under medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and people with disabilities. the bill averts a cut in doctors' pay, shifting to a structure aimed at rewarding doctors for quality of care, rather than the number of office visits. it also extends a children's healthcare program for another two years. but the measure cuts billions of dollars from medicare and increases insurance costs

mike froman, ustr rep he will be here later this summer. what does he need to see?chairman furman: i will let him negotiate. i will not negotiate with you right here. hans: we can talk about it here. chairman furman: there is a lot of potential here. there are a lot of places where there are impediments to trade. also just a lot of duplication red tape impediments to growth. there is also an opportunity. the united states and europe share high standards, the same values. we can set up a template that will create an example for the world. hans: i saw you checking your phone. there is a lot of concern in europe about angela merkel's smartphone being cap. do you use your phone here the same way you use it in the states? chairman furman: absolutely? hans: and you are convinced your communication is secure? chairman furman: absolutely. i use my work e-mail for work and i e-mail my wife am a private e-mail account. hans: we do thank you for your time. jason furman. i will send it back to london and we will be back deconstructing this interview and especially the firm time

i asked this question several times of ambassador froman when he was here before the committee. and he assured me in his testimony that there would be a vote. well if that's the position of the administration than there is no harm to guarantee that position is here in tpp. i mean tba. why not simply adopt the amendment and make it clear that in the future china or anybody else is not a party today and is going to have a vote of the congress. that proposition has been very largely argued by my colleagues on a whole host of other things. i see it totally appropriate here as well.>> let me just say this sir. i'm prepared to vote on this. i hope the people will vote against it. i believe that this agreement is a well-done agreement and under the circumstances better than i ever thought it would be. frankly we have the support of the president. we have to have the support of the house of representatives fighting for that and i hope our colleagues will vote for greed.>> mr. chairman i would just add with all due respect, i think this is a really important amendment and i would urge co

trade rep, in mike froman, and secretary's use of commercial diplomacy is one of the bright things that our approach to world affairs. i think it recognizes we made the transition from 20th century problem-solving to 21st century problem. the 20th century was a bipolar century. in the 21st century, globalization is the reality and the relationship particularly in this country between the and can private sector is on a course of convergence versus divergence. one of the sectors that is universally admired and recognize it is the american private sector, and when you think about the developing world and the growth of africa and what is going on, even dealing with the problems of mr. putin is causing, a large part of the solutions are economic. when you think about it. energy security is something i've been convinced is not only going to be one of the united states' strongest hold cards inside the future but a way of showing leader palestine a more globalized world that recognizes the important changes between the two centuries. this century's problems are going to be solved not just by ai

because i think there has been some accommodation that takes care of questions i asked ambassador froman. so bear with me just a moment while i explain what i am up to and what i intend to do in the future. i want to a mention the amendment. while i do not intend to ask for a vote, i want to reiterate my concerns about trade agreements containing immigration provisions. when i was chairman and ranking member of this committee, i opposed previous administration's attempts to include immigration provisions and i demanded that you do use -- that the judiciary committee be consulted. despite opposition from congress in 2003 included immigration agreements with china and singapore. these consultations are merely consultations and they do not provide a mechanism for ensuring that changes are not included. when the ambassador was before this committee last week, i specifically asked about the immigration divisions and he told us that they are not negotiating anything that would require any modifications of u.s. immigration laws or systems. he told us that the other countries are making ours --

trade representative michael froman is in japan negotiating to close the remaining gaps on the trans-pacific partnership. and the u.s. and e.u. are hosting the ninth round of ttip talks in new york city. last week a bipartisan trade promotion authority bill was introduced in the senate. republicans ted cruz and paul ryan endorsed it in the "wall street journal" yesterday. so with that scene set let me turn to a foreign press of individuals who are uniquely qualified to talk about the connection between american economic strength and the place of these trade investment agreements and national security and i'll also ask them to come to the stage as i introduce them. for our audience and online we welcome your participation in this dialogue. our twitter hashtag today is #actrade. so let me repeat that. #actrade. brief introductions. carolined a kinson is the deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs of the us who. no one better qualified to address these issues and provide insight into the obama administration's trade efforts. general jones, you can start making it to