Beaverton, Ore. — Nike executives in Oregon are promising 10,000 American jobs if a controversial trade agreement goes through.
On Friday President Obama was in Oregon for the first time in three years.
He voiced his support for the trade agreement at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton.
The president is supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP.
It involves 12 countries and is aimed at expanding global trade, re-vamping trade rules and improving on the North American Free Trade Agreement, also know as NAFTA passed 20 years ago.
“This agreement fixes some of what was wrong with NAFTA by making labor and environmental provisions actually enforceable,” said President Obama.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, (D) Oregon told NBC5 News earlier this week in the 5 on 5 interview that he supports the TPP because it could mean more Oregon exports.
“I look at the products in Southern Oregon… I think we ought to make sure that Oregon and the Oregon brand gets into the developing world,” said Wyden.
However the TPP has been controversial with the president asking for the “fast track” authority to present it to Congress for an up or down vote with no amendments.
Some Democrats have voiced their opposition to the deal including Oregon’s Congressman Peter DeFazio.
“On this issue, on trade, I actually think some of my dearest friends are wrong,” said the President Obama.
There have also been concerns about the agreement being too secretive and being developed behind closed doors.
Wyden insists that the trade agreement is not secretive but is transparent.
He said the public will be able to see the Trans-Pacific Partnership text four months before the U.S. Senate votes on it and 60 days before the president signs it.
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