Will U.S. Apparel Trade Rules Be Relaxed? When Pigs Fly ... To Asia

Pork producers and fashion designers are unlikely allies. But that is exactly what they will be when negotiators from the United States join their counterparts from nine Asia-Pacific countries in San Diego next week to hammer out the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Specifically, when the negotiations get underway, observers from farms to fashion shows will be counting on U.S. negotiators' ability to make pigs fly, or more specifically, make American pork fly to Asian markets.

The TPP is a prospective regional free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States, Australia, Chile, Peru, Singapore, New Zealand, Brunei, Malaysia, Mexico and Vietnam.