The TPP Presidential Memo

Here it is:

Regarding Withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations and Agreement

MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

SUBJECT:                    Withdrawal of the United States from the
                                     Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations
                                     and Agreement

It is the policy of my Administration to represent the American people and their financial well-being in all negotations, particularly the American worker, and to create fair and economically beneficial trade deals that serve their interests. Additionally, in order to ensure these outcomes, it is the intention of my Administration to deal directly with individual countries on a one-on-one (or bilateral) basis in negotiating future trade deals. Trade with other nations is, and always will be, of paramount importance to my Administration and to me, as President of the United States.

Based on these principles, and by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct you to withdraw the United States as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to permanently withdraw the United States from TPP negotiations, and to begin pursuing, wherever possible, bilateral trade negotiations to promote American industry, protect American workers, and raise American wages.

You are directed to provide written notification to the Parties and to the Depository of the TPP, as appropriate, that the United States withdraws as a signatory of the TPP and withdraws from the TPP negotiating process.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

What if we added a provision to the TPP that said something like: "With respect to the United States, this agreement applies bilaterally with respect to each of the other TPP parties." Wouldn't that be the quickest way to sign 11 trade agreements? You might have to tweak a few other provisions to make this approach work.

ADDED: Yes, I know, we already have trade agreements with some of the TPP countries. But this approach would get us a few new ones, and some updated versions of old ones, with 11 in total.