By Kristi Ellis
Julia Hughes, president at the U.S. Fashion Industry Association, said Pence has made positive statements about TPP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade negotiations between the U.S. and European Union and Trade Promotion Authority. But even with Pence’s strong free trade credentials, Hughes is skeptical it will sway Trump’s strong antitrade stance.
“I don’t think picking Pence means Donald Trump will change any of his views on trade, which continues to be antifree-trade agreements, antiTPP and in general antitrade,” Hughes said. “They are all pretty central issues to the Trump message to voters that he is opposed to trade. I don’t think suddenly he will [change] his views and say ‘I will support TPP if we can change the biologics provision.”
She said Pence was chosen for other reasons, not his views on trade.
“He was selected because of his role as a social conservative and the ability to appeal to that wing of the Republican party,” she said.