Changes

The Office of U.S. Trade Representative states that approximately 40 million jobs are created by sectors of the American economy driven by the development of intellectual property (IP), thereby making IP protection a primary goal in the worldwide trade agreement. During negotiations the US worked towards leveling the playing field for businesses exporting “IP-intensive products and services” by protecting patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets and eliminating channels for pirated or counterfeited goods. The agreement was intended to increase innovation and access to advances in science, medicine, and technology both by competitors and consumers. [https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/trans-pacific-partnership/tpp-chapter-chapter-negotiating-9] The resulting agreement intends to accomplish these goals by promoting digital commerce and freedom. American leadership in e-commerce, or Internet-based transactions, gives America the ability to lead head the development of regulations that will reduce barriers to trade and censorship. Countries can no longer require U.S. businesses to transfer “their data, servers, research facilities, and other necessities overseas in order to access those markets.” [https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/TPP-Overall-US-Benefits-Fact-Sheet.pdf]