Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said Monday supporters of trade agreements need to work harder to sell them to the public as President Trump got set to officially withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“It’s clear that those of us who believe trade is good for American families have done a terrible job defending trade’s historic successes and celebrating its future potential,” Sasse said in a statement. “We have to make the arguments and we have to start now.”
Sasse, who had been one of the most vocal opponents of Trump during his campaign, is a supporter of the TPP trade deal with Pacific rim nations. Trump is expected to sign an executive order early Monday withdrawing the United States from the deal, which was never ratified by Congress and appears to lack enough support to pass in either chamber.
Trump and other opponents have argued trade deals leave American manufacturers and workers at a disadvantage. But Sasse and proponents believe the deals stimulate economic growth.
