(VOVworld) – The top US trade official urged US lawmakers Tuesday to back the Obama administration’s trade agenda.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on ”President Obama's 2015 Trade Policy Agenda," on Capitol Hill in Washington, on January 27, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the administration looked to lawmakers to create a streamlined approval process for trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). TPP chief negotiators are meeting in New York this week and seeking a mid-March completion date.
Froman said the US government is trying to accelerate negotiations with the EU on a Trans-Atlantic Trade Investment and Partnership (TTIP). Once signed, the two agreements will help US businesses access the world’s two largest markets, boost US product and service exports, create jobs, and increase US workers’ salaries. The agreements will also help resolve other issues, such as copyright protection, digital commerce, environment protection, and labour rights.