On July 23, 2013, 48 U.S. business and agriculture trade associations including USA-ITA sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman urging for “further trade liberalization” in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The letter specifically urges trade liberalization in “the few sectors of the U.S. economy, such as textiles and apparel, sugar, and footwear, that continue to receive relatively substantial protection from import competition compared to most other sectors.” The letter was organized by the U.S. Business Coalition for TPP and sent during the 18^th round of negotiations in Malaysia.