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With TPP Signed, Battle Moves To Congress

United Soybean Board
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Flickr Creative Commons

The U.S. symbolically signed on to the biggest global trade partnership in history Thursday morning local time in New Zealand. Harvest Public Media’s Kristofor Husted reports on next steps.

The Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, is expected to open up new markets for American agricultural exports, especially soybeans and beef. But it’s controversial.

“There are some people suggesting the concessions that have been made into the U.S. market would offset that," says Julian Binfield, the director of international programs at the University of Missouri. "Or some people would suggest the deal didn’t as go far people would have liked.”

For President Obama, the battle now moves to Congress for approval, where the TPP has been met with opposition from both sides of the aisle.

Legislators will ultimately vote to approve or reject the deal in the coming months.

Kristofor Husted is a senior reporter at KBIA in Columbia, Mo. Previously Husted reported for NPR’s Science Desk in Washington and Harvest Public Media. Husted was a 2013 fellow with the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources and a 2015 fellow for the Institute for Journalism and Justice. He’s won regional and national Edward R. Murrow, PRNDI and Sigma Delta Chi awards. Husted also is an instructor at the Missouri School of Journalism. He received a B.S. in cell biology from UC Davis and an M.S. in journalism from Northwestern University.