Valley growers see Trans-Pacific Partnership as business boost

Opponents of a new international trade deal rallied in Downtown Fresno. They claim the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a threat to American jobs.

Supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership say it would reduce the cost of trading and investing between the U.S. and 11 other countries, from Mexico to Vietnam.

President Obama is pushing the deal and has strong republican support. But his own democratic party is suspicious of the deal and divided.

Dillon Savory said, "We are all dumbfounded by the fact our president, Barack Obama and our right wing government that's in charge of the house of representatives and the senate, they haven't agreed on anything this whole time they've been together in Washington but they've found one thing to agree on and that's shipping jobs overseas through the trans-pacific partnership."

Labor and environmental groups came together in Downtown Fresno to speak out against the deal and especially the presidents desire to keep details secret and to fast track it, giving congress no ability to change anything.

Congressman Jim Costa of Fresno is one of the few democrats who support the trade partnership.

Barry Bedwell of the California Fresh Fruit Association supports it because so many Valley growers depend on exporting their products.

Bedwell said, "The more we can sell around the world, the more jobs we'll create."

But opponents fear, like other trade deals this agreement would lead to moving more American jobs overseas to low wage countries.