The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was covered in detail during the recent American Boating Congress. Twelve countries, including the United States, signed an agreement geared to strengthen global trade, pinpointing the Pacific region, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

The U.S. Coalition for TPP, a broad-based and cross-sectoral group of U.S. companies and associations including the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and NMMA, is working to gather support on Capitol Hill to ratify the agreement quickly. The coalition supports growing U.S. manufacturing and strengthening the boating industry’s position in the global marketplace. According to NMMA, the recreational boating industry can benefit through regulatory transparency and measures to ensure cooperation among regulatory bodies to reduce burdensome and duplicative rules.

Nicole Vasilaros, NMMA vice president of federal and legal affairs, says, “NMMA is proud to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a historic trade agreement that will not only advance global trade but supports growth in the Asia-Pacific region specifically. The recreational boating industry is pleased with the strides taken towards regulatory coherence, bolstering a global marketplace of rules, and the elimination of technical barriers resolving issues for standards harmonization. Like many other global business sectors, marine manufacturing will benefit from the transparent customs procedures and reduced or eliminated barriers, ensuring fairness and accountability for products and leveling the playing field amongst U.S. manufacturers. The recreational boating community urges a swift ratification of the TPP as a sound trade agreement benefiting our industry’s manufacturers as well as U.S. manufacturing at large.”