House Democrats urge administration to stick with 2007 trade agreement details

A group of House Ways and Means Democrats are pressing for U.S. trade officials to maintain a 2007 agreement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

Fourteen Democrats sent a letter on Tuesday to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk asking him to incorporate and defend in the elements of the May 10, 2007 agreement between Congress and the Bush administration. 

"The May 10 agreement includes critical obligations designed to raise living standards in the United States and abroad," the letter said. 

The 2007 components "of our most recent FTAs are, without question, some of the most forward-looking aspects" of the U.S. free-trade program, the letter said. 

"While more work can be done to ensure that our trade agreements reflect our values and interests, and gain bipartisan congressional support and broad public support, the May 10 agreement is a critical basis to any successful conclusion of the TPP negotiations."

The letter was signed by Ways and Means ranking member Sandy Levin (Mich.), and Rep. Jim McDermott, (Wash.) ranking member on the Subcommittee on Trade and Reps. Charles Rangel (N.Y.), Pete Stark (Calif.), John Lewis (Ga.), Richard Neal (Mass.), Xavier Becerra (Calif.), Mike Thompson (Calif.), John Larson (Conn.), Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Ron Kind (Wis.),  Bill Pascrell Jr. (N.J.), Shelly Berkley (Nev.) and  Joseph Crowley (N.Y.).