TPP幾乎無助於推動美國經濟增長
An ambitious Pacific Rim trade deal being touted by US President Barack Obama would add just 0.15 per cent annually to US economic output after 15 years and contribute to a loss of politically sensitive manufacturing jobs, according to an official study of its economic impact that is likely to fuel criticism of the pact.
對《跨太平洋夥伴關係協定》（Trans-Pacific Partnership，簡稱TPP）的經濟影響所作的官方報告顯示，美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)吹捧的這份雄心勃勃的環太平洋貿易協議，在15年後每年只能給美國經濟帶來0.15%的額外產出，卻可能加劇政治上敏感的製造業工作崗位的流失。這份報告很可能會助燃對該協定的批評。
Mr Obama has put the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Japan and 10 other countries at the centre of his second-term economic agenda and argued that it is needed for the US to get ahead of China in writing the rules of the road for global commerce.
奧巴馬將與日本和其他10個國家簽訂的TPP置於其第二任期經濟議程的核心位置。他認爲，美國迫切需要趕在中國之前制訂全球商業的道路規則。
But his administration is facing an uphill battle to secure approval from Congress for the deal before he leaves office in January. With all remaining combatants in the battle to succeed Mr Obama expressing scepticism about the TPP, the broad view is that the next president is unlikely to rush to make it a reality if it does not pass through Congress by then.
但是，爲了在奧巴馬明年1月離任前獲得美國國會對該協定的批准，奧巴馬政府面臨着不少阻力。接替奧巴馬的競選之戰中所有剩下的角逐者都表達了對TPP的懷疑，有鑑於此，普遍觀點是，如果該協定到下一任總統上任時仍然未在國會通過，新總統不太可能急於推動TPP成爲現實。
Mike Froman, Mr Obama’s trade tsar, defended what he called the “conservative” gains projected in an exhaustive 792-page review of the TPP by economists from the US International Trade Commission, mandated by Congress.
奧巴馬的貿易談判代表邁克•弗羅曼(Mike Froman)對他所稱的這份報告預測的“保守”收益進行了辯護。該報告由國會授權，用792頁篇幅詳盡記錄了美國國際貿易委員會(ITC)的經濟學家對TPP的評估。
“Every major reputable study has said that the TPP will benefit the American economy,” he told reporters after the report was released on Wednesday.
“每一項受尊重的重大研究都表示TPP將使美國經濟受益，”他在該報告週三發佈後向記者表示。
