Trade negotiators from the U.S. and 11 other countries have finalized the terms of the Trans Pacific Partnership, an agreement that would eliminate import duties and other trade barriers across the Pacific Rim over time. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) praised the deal, noting that U.S. footwear importers paid $2.7 billion in duties last year, with more than $450 million of that related to TPP countries. Nearly one-third of the shoes imported into the U.S. come from Vietnam, where major brands have already started to rush to occupy additional manufacturing capacities. The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) gave a more muted endorsement, stating that it would closely scrutinize the document for environmental and labor rights provisions. Masterminded by U.S. President Barack Obama, the TPP excludes China, in a move apparently intended to serve as a check on its growing influence in world trade. China still accounts for about half of the shoes, clothing and equipment imported into the U.S. It will probably take several years for the TPP to be approved by the member countries, but the U.S. Congress will not be able to amend it. Hilary Clinton, the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, had already backed the TPP, but she is now warning that the current text of the TPP fails to meet her standards for protection American workers and the environment. In addition to the U.S. and Vietnam, the other members of the partnership are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and Singapore.

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